Sept 22, 2001

Final Stats

By BETSY BLANEY
Associated Press Writer

IRVING, Texas - Paul McClendon returned a fumble and an interception for touchdowns, sparking Texas Tech to a 42-14 victory over North Texas 42-14 on Saturday night at Texas Stadium.

Ricky Williams had 94 yards rushing, including touchdown runs of 9 and 2 yards, and caught 13 passes for 101 yards as the Red Raiders (2-0) had 407 total yards to 285 for North Texas.

McClendon intercepted Richard Bridges' pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown that increased the Red Raiders' lead to 28-0 in the third quarter. North Texas (0-3) had just picked up first downs on three consecutive plays, matching the Mean Green's first-half total.

In the first quarter, McClendon had grabbed Kevin Galbreath's fumble and run 6 yards for a touchdown. That came just two plays after Tech's opening 19-play drive stalled when Williams was stopped on fourth-and-goal from the 3.

McClendon has three touchdowns already this season. He returned a fumble 54 yards for a touchdown in Tech's season-opening 42-30 victory over New Mexico two weeks ago.

On his 9-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, Williams got behind his blockers and with a stutter step, strode into the end zone. He scored from 2 yards out near the end of the game.

Tech led 21-0 at halftime. Anthony Terrel ended the second quarter with an interception. Bridges was held to 5-for-11 for 46 yards.

The Mean Green didn't score until Scott Hall - the normal starter who's been hampered by a calf injury - replaced Bridges in the third quarter.

Hall threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to George Marshall to cap a 15-play, 74-yard drive. The sophomore quarterback scored on a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 35-14.

Williams ended the scoring with a 2-yard run late in the fourth quarter.