Tech halted when it counted most
OSU prevails despite giving up a record 718 total yards
Tech halted when it counted most

By Mike Baldwin

Published: September 23, 2007

Oklahoma State's defense surrendered 718 total yards.

Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell threw for 646 yards and five touchdowns.

Here comes the strange part.

OSU won 49-45 Saturday afternoon at Boone Pickens Stadium. And the defense played a key role.

"It definitely was an emotional roller coaster,” said defensive end Nathan Peterson. "That's what it felt like. It was stressful. We knew early it would be a shootout, that we'd have to step up and make some big plays.”

The 718 yards allowed were the most by an OSU defense in the program's 106-year history.

Harrell's 646 yards was the fourth highest passing total in NCAA history, 158 more than Jerry Rhome, the previous record holder who threw for 488 against the Cowboys in 1964.

"The most important thing is we won the game,” said linebacker Donovan Woods. "They don't determine wins and losses by how many yards you have. It comes down to who scores more points.”

After struggling the first half, OSU's defense produced stops on six of the Red Raiders' eight second-half possessions.

Cornerback Jacob Lacey, burned much of the day, was the star on the final two Tech possessions. A Lacey pass breakup against Tech freshman star wide receiver Michael Crabtree forced the Red Raiders to punt in a game in which there were only four punts — two by each side.

On the first play from scrimmage after Tech punted, OSU tight end Brandon Pettigrew hauled in a short pass and rambled 54 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.

It was far from over.

Tech took over at its 28 with 1:30 to play. It took Harrell and Crabtree only two plays to hook up for gains of 13 and 42 yards. Just like that the Red Raiders threatened to take the lead at the OSU 17-yard line.

OSU's defense once again rose to the occasion.

Linebacker Patrick Lavine broke up a first-down pass. Lacey held Crabtree to a two-yard gain on second down. Harrell misfired on third down and Crabtree failed to haul in a bullet pass in the end zone with 19 seconds left.

"I'm not a numbers guy,” said defensive coordinator Tim Beckman. "We have to get better. That's the bottom line. That's up to us as defensive coaches. But the bottom line is we won the game and have something to build on.”

Woods asked whether it was the most yards ever thrown in an NCAA game? Minutes after the game, it was discovered it's the fourth most ever.

"It doesn't matter,” Woods said. "It's always fun when you win. It's as simple as that.”

OSU's defense had its backs against the end zone all day. But in the second half the Cowboys made big plays down the stretch to help notch a much needed win.

"This was big,” Peterson said. "A lot of people kind of gave up on us after last week. We had a great, long, hard week of practice. We rallied and really came together. We had a chip on our shoulder. We were out to make a statement.”

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