Dec 30, 2006, 5:25 GMT
Tempe, AZ - Alex Trlica booted a game-tying 52-yard field goal and Shannon Woods ran in the winning touchdown in overtime, as the Texas Tech Red Raiders completed the biggest comeback in bowl game history with a 44-41 victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers at the Insight Bowl.
The Red Raiders were down by 31 points with 7:47 to play in the third quarter when Graham Harrell began completing passes all over the field.
The previous biggest comeback was in the 2001 GMAC Bowl when Marshall fought back from a 30-point deficit to beat East Carolina 64-61 (2-OT).
Woods ran the ball 19 times for 109 yards with three touchdowns and Joel Filani made 11 catches for 162 yards with a score for Texas Tech (8-5), which is 9-20-1 in postseason games.
Harrell completed 36-of-55 passes for 445 yards with two touchdowns and an interception and Robert Johnson hauled in nine passes for 97 yards and a TD for the Red Raiders, who finished the season winning three of their last four games.
'I can't say enough about our players and our coaches because when you have a group that needs to collectively believe in something for it to happen, I mean, if you have just a handful of doubters, it can screw the whole thing up,' said Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach.
'I felt like our players and our coaches were really committed to win this game, to playing well the second half,' continued Leach. 'I'm proud of them to be able to do that. Any time you have to do something like that collectively, it's a great team effort.'
Amir Pinnix ran the ball 34 times for 179 yards with a touchdown while Bryan Cupito was 19-of-31 for 263 yards with three touchdowns and a pick for the Golden Gophers (6-7), who had won their previous three games just to become bowl eligible.
Jack Simmons made seven catches for 134 yards with a score and Ernie Wheelwright had four catches for 45 yards and a TD for Minnesota, which is 5-7 in bowl games.
'Needless to say, that game was a game of two halves,' said Minnesota head coach Glen Mason. 'It seemed like we played great defense, unstoppable offense the first half, were very good in the kicking game, and every break went our way. With the exception of the opening drive in the second half, we struggled on offense, we struggled on defense, gave up a big punt return. When we needed to make a play, we just couldn't do it.'
The Golden Gophers began right where they left off in the first half, as they opened the third quarter with a 16-play, 78-yard drive, resulting in a 20-yard field goal from Joel Monroe for a 38-7 drubbing.
However, Texas Tech began to chip away with a 43-yard bomb to Filani, cutting the deficit to 38-14.
The Red Raiders pulled even closer the next time they touched the ball. On 4th-and-12 at the Minnesota 22, Harrell completed a 14-yard pass to Todd Walker, and on the next play Johnson hauled in an eight-yard TD pass, bringing Texas Tech within 38-21 early in the fourth quarter.
A Daniel Charbonnet sack with under 9 1/2 minutes on the clock forced a turnover on downs for Minnesota. Harrell then completed four passes of at least 10 yards on the ensuing possession, which ended with a one-yard scoring scamper from the quarterback with 7:49 remaining.
Woods made the score 38-35 with 2:39 on the clock with a one-yard TD run. Danny Amendola's 33-yard punt return to the Texas Tech 44 started the Red Raiders with good field position and the drive took nearly three minutes off the clock, as they continued to claw their way back into the contest.
However, the ensuing onside kick was tipped by a Minnesota player but it went out of bounds at midfield. After a three-and-out, Texas Tech got the ball back at its own 12 with 1:06 left.
Minnesota's defense continued its second-half disappearing act and the Red Raiders got close enough to attempt a 52-yard game-tying field goal. Trlica's previous career-long was from 49 yards, but he nailed the kick with room to spare, sending the game into overtime.
The Red Raiders won the toss and chose to play defense, limiting the Golden Gophers to a 32-yard field goal from Monroe for a 41-38 margin.
Harrell began the drive with a pair of passes to Filani before an encroachment penalty made it 2nd-and-1 at the 4. After a one-yard run from Woods, he took in the winning score from the 3 for the most improbable comeback in bowl game history.
After Texas Tech turned the ball over on downs on their first drive, the Gophers stormed downfield with a six-play, 45-yard possession, including a 22- yard pass to Simmons, followed by a two-yard toss to the tight end for a 7-0 lead.
Minnesota got the ball right back as Mike Sherels intercepted a pass at the Texas Tech 37. On 3rd-and-5 at the Red Raiders 7, Darcel McBath was called for a defensive pass interference call, giving the Gophers a first down on the 2, and on the next play Pinnix muscled in for the TD and a 14-0 margin.
The Red Raiders were driving downfield when Harrell was strip-sacked by William Van DeSteeg and Steve Davis recovered for Minnesota. The Gophers covered 87 yards in eight plays, ending with a one-yard TD run from Justin Valentine on the first play of the second quarter for a 21-0 advantage.
Even when Texas Tech seemed to change momentum it was short-lived. Antonio Huffman intercepted a Cupito pass at the Gophers 15 and as he ran for an apparent touchdown, he was hit from behind and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Valentine in the end zone.
Minnesota then went on a seven-play, 80-yard drive, highlighted by a 40-yard run from Pinnix, and three plays later Wheelwright caught a 14-yard TD pass for a 28-0 rout.
The Red Raiders finally got on the board when Woods, who gained 42 rushing yards on the drive, ran the ball in from the 1, narrowing the gap to 28-7.
The Gophers couldn't be stopped, as they drove 81 yards, including a 38-yard pass to Simmons to the Red Raiders 31. Five plays later Cupito found Logan Payne with a three-yard scoring pass for a 35-7 lead with 32 seconds left in the first half.
Minnesota gained 330 yards in the first half, including 170 yards on the ground.
Game Notes
Texas Tech gained 548 yards of total offense, including 445 through the air, while Minnesota had 458 yards of total offense. The Golden Gophers finished with 195 rushing yards.Walker finished with five catches for 68 yards.Payne ended with three catches for 18 yards and a score.The Red Raiders punted the ball once all game.Texas Tech converted 7-of-10 third downs, compared to Minnesota, which was 6-of-14.The Golden Gophers dominated time of possession, 35:49 to 24:11.
Texas Tech gained 548 yards of total offense, including 445 through the air, while Minnesota had 458 yards of total offense. The Golden Gophers finished with 195 rushing yards.
Walker finished with five catches for 68 yards.
Payne ended with three catches for 18 yards and a score.
The Red Raiders punted the ball once all game.
Texas Tech converted 7-of-10 third downs, compared to Minnesota, which was 6-of-14.
The Golden Gophers dominated time of possession, 35:49 to 24:11.
© 2006 The Sports Network
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