Last Second Field Goal Gets Alabama Past Tech, 13-10

DALLAS-- For the second time in its 70-year history, the Cotton Bowl was decided on the final play of the game. And Texas Tech ended up getting the short end of the stick. Alabama kicker Jamie Christensen kicked a 46-yard field goal with :05 seconds remaining to give No. 13 Alabama the victory over the 18th-ranked Red Raiders, 13-10. Christensen was the unlikely hero of the game. Earlier in the game, he had missed a 39-yard field goal and had another one blocked. The Red Raiders finish the season 9-3. The game was a defensive struggle for both teams. Alabama`s defense, ranked No. 2 in the nation, kept Tech`s offense in-check for most of the game. Tech quarterback Cody Hodges was never really able to get into a rhythm, overshooting receivers on pass plays, and being forced to scramble for yards. Hodges ended the game as Tech`s leading rusher with 65 yards and was 15-for-32 on pass plays for 195 yards and one touchdown. On the other side of the ball, Tech`s defense kept Alabama`s offense out of the end zone. Alabama scored early with quarterback Brodie Croyle on a 76-yard touchdown pass to Keith Brown. Alabama did drive the ball several times down the field, but the Red Raider defense held the Tide to field goal attempts. Penalties also hurt the Red Raiders. Tech was penalized 10 times, many of them on false start calls, for 65 yards. After Alabama`s touchdown early in the first quarter, Tech was able to convert a 10-play 69-yard drive with a 34-yard field goal from Alex Trlica to make the score 7-3. Alabama started the second half with a 67-yard drive that took up most of the 3rd quarter. But with the ball on their own 14-yard line, Tech`s defense stopped the Tide three successive times, forcing Christensen to kick a 31-yard field goal. Tech would come back. After being knocked out of the game, Cody Hodges hobbled back onto the field midway through the 4th quarter for a two-play drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Jarrett Hicks. Trlica`s extra-point tied the game at 10. Alabama would get one more shot. And they made the most of it. Starting from their own 14-yard line after being penalized for holding in the ensuing kickoff, Croyle threw passes to Matt Miller, Brandon Brooks and Keith Brown to get the Tide down to Tech`s 28. That set up Christensen`s game-winning kick. The kick was a low one that just cleared the bar holding the uprights. As Alabama players ran out onto the field to celebrate, players on the Tech bench, and Red Raider fans in the stands, were left in stunned silence. Tech is 0-3 in the Cotton Bowl. The loss also snapped a three-game winning bowl streak.