ARLINGTON, Texas (AP)—Taylor Potts threw a pair of touchdown passes to Lyle Leong less than two minutes apart midway through the third quarter, and the defense made a goal-line stand in the final minutes, giving Texas Tech a 20-13 victory over Baylor on Saturday night.
Playing in front of a heavily pro-Tech crowd at Cowboys Stadium, the Red Raiders (8-4, 5-3 Big 12) scored their fewest points in a victory since beating Texas A&M 12-0 in November 2001. It was the third-fewest points in a victory in coach Mike Leach’s 10-year tenure.
Texas Tech came in averaging 38.2 points, seventh-best in the nation, but looked nothing like an offensive juggernaut. The Red Raiders didn’t score until getting a field goal with four seconds remaining in the first quarter. Other than the back-to-back touchdowns, their only points came on a 43-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter.
Baylor (4-8, 1-7) let senior quarterback Blake Szymanski start his final game and he nearly pulled off the upset. He kept the Bears close all game, then had them at first-and-goal from the 10 late in the fourth quarter.
On fourth down from the 5, he scrambled to his right and threw behind receiver Ernest Smith. Even if Smith had caught it, he wasn’t in the end zone, and two Tech players were near him. Baylor never threw into the end zone on that final series.
The Red Raiders came into the game knowing they were likely headed to the Holiday or Alamo bowls. While they were hoping to return for the first Cotton Bowl in Cowboys Stadium, the Big 12’s spot likely will go to Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys lost their chance for a spot in a BCS game by losing to Oklahoma on Saturday.
Head to Head - Week 13
| Team | Total Yds | Pass Yds | Rush Yds | First Downs | 3rdD% | Pen./Yds | Turnovers | Time of Poss. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Tech | 369 | 269 | 100 | 22 | 33.3% | 3/20 | 2 | 30:10 |
| Baylor | 342 | 238 | 104 | 19 | 47.1% | 7/44 | 2 | 29:50 |
