Colorado Stuns Tech Again
By: David Collier
Updated: October 28, 2007
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Lubbock, TX (Sports Network) - Cody Hawkins threw a pair of touchdowns in helping to lead the Colorado Buffaloes to a 31-26 win over the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Big 12 Conference play at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Hawkins converted 15-of-26 for 123 yards for the Buffs (5-4, 3-2 Big 12), while Hugh Charles ran for a game-high 121 yards and scored as the team snapped a two-game slide.
The Red Raiders (6-3, 2-3), losers of two in a row, were again led by Graham Harrell who made good on 46-of-62 for 431 yards and three touchdowns, but he also suffered three sacks and threw four interceptions in the setback.
"The simple answer is he just needs to go through his reads," Tech head coach Mike Leach noted when asked about Harrell's interceptions. "Sometimes when the guy has success, the temptation to not stay within yourself is too big."
The only scoring of the first quarter came courtesy of a 31-yard touchdown run by Charles at the 8:13 mark of the frame.
Colorado added to the lead early in the second when Hawkins found Riar Geer with a two-yard TD pass, capping a 12-play, 75-yard drive.
Tech kicker Alex Trlica gave the home team hope with field goals of 30 and 48 yards in the second frame, but still the Red Raiders trailed at the break, 14-6.
A 44-yard field goal by Colorado's Kevin Eberhart was followed less than a minute later by a 42-yard interception return for a score by Jordon Dizon, pushing the Buffs lead to 24-6.
A furious Texas Tech comeback bid began with a 31-yard TD toss from Harrell to Eric Morris, but again Colorado responded with a six-yard TD pass from Hawkins to Charles.
Michael Crabtree, who finished the afternoon with 12 catches for 131 yards, pulled in a 19-yard touchdown pass with seven seconds remaining in the third to make the score 31-19.
Harrell's seven-yard TD toss to Edward Britton late in the fourth proved to be too little, too late in the five-point decision.
Colorado cornerback Terrence Wheatley accounted for three picks for the defense, one that limited Tech to just 39 yards rushing, compared to 217 yards for the Buffs.
Crabtree, who has now posted at least 100 yards receiving in all but one of nine games this season, is now the NCAA receptions leader for freshmen with an even 100 catches, resulting in 1,451 yards and 18 touchdowns thus far.
10/27 18:04:17 ET
