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Game #6
Texas Tech 31, Rice 26
October 21, at Lubbock
Attendance: 33,591

It was two different games for the No. 25-ranked Red Raiders but the result was the same &emdash;a victory over the Rice Owls.

With Zebbie Lethridge setting the tone, Tech raced out to a 24-0 lead in the third quarter before an Owl rally caused concern. After Rice narrowed the deficit to 24-18, Lethridge guided the offense 80 yards for the clinching touchdown early in the fourth quarter. He passed for two touchdowns and ran for another on the day.

In the process, Zebbie broke the SWC record of 176 consecutive passes without an interception. It was also a record-breaking day for the Red Raiders, who were recording a school best seventh straight conference home victory.

The worse mistake the Raiders made was knocking Rice quarterback Josh LaRocca out of the game late in the second quarter. Reserve Chad Nelson showed great mobility by running for almost all of his 145 yards in the second half.

TEAM

TEXAS TECH
RICE

1

2

3

4

F

0

21

3

7

31

0

0

18

8

26

STATISTICS

First Downs
Rushing
Passing
Returns
Total Offense
Passes
Punting
Fumbles/Lost
Penalties
Third-Down Conversions
Fourth Down Conversions

TT

18
49-217
144
34
71-361
22-11-0
3-47
2-1
9-58
7-15
0-2

RICE

18
57-234
61
33
72-295
15-4-2
6-45.5
1-1
4-30
6-15
1-1

Rushers: TT&emdash;Hanspard 29-93-1; Mitchell 1-49; Hobbs 5-40; Lethridge 10-26-1; Walker 2-25; Cade 2-(-16). RICE&emdash;Nelson 19-145-2; George 13-40; Whitlock 7-24-1; LaRocca 6-11; Newhouse 2-3; Wilmington 1-9; Edmonds 9-2.

Passing: TT&emdash;Lethridge 11-21-0, 144, 2 TD's. RICE&emdash;Nelson 2-8-2,49; LaRocca 2-7-0, 12.

Receiving: TT&emdash;Darden 3-36; Hanspard 2-77, 2 TD's; Hobbs 2-9; Hart 1-8; McKenzie 1-7; Spinks 1-4; Adams 1-3. RICE&emdash;Wilmington 2-49; Perry 1-6; Bridges 1-6.

SCORING

TT&emdash;Byron Hanspard 68 pass from Zebbie Lethridge (Tony Rogers kick), 10:23, 2Q

TT&emdash;Lethridge 1 run (Rogers kick), 7:33, 2Q

TT&emdash;Hanspard 9 pass from Lethridge (Rogers kick), 1:42, 2Q

TT&emdash;Rogers 39 field goal, 11:24, 3Q

RICE&emdash;Chad Nelson 9 run (Thad Bridges pass from Nelson), 8:12, 3Q

RICE&emdash;Mike Ruff 52 field goal, 1:46, 3Q

RICE&emdash;Nelson 12 run (Ruff kick), 1:08, 3Q

TT&emdash;Hanspard 18 run (Rogers kick), 11:25, 4Q

Rice&emdash;Brad Cade stepped out of end zone, 2:58, 4Q

Rice&emdash;Jamey Whitlock 8 run (Nelson pass failed), 0:24, 4Q
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