Texas Tech Needs Win To Be Bowl Eligible
LUBBOCK (AP) - Tommy Tuberville is aiming to finish his first year at Texas Tech at a bowl game.
The Red Raiders have two contests left, both at home and neither against a conference opponent, to get a sixth win and become bowl eligible for an 11th-straight season.
On Saturday, Texas Tech takes on Weber State. A win over the Wildcats could be counted toward bowl eligibility as a team can include a win over a FCS opponent once every four years.
Tuberville isn't sure which quarterback will start following Taylor Potts' worst performance in 19 career starts. The senior quarterback threw for only 136 yards and had two interceptions at Oklahoma before backups Steven Sheffield, a senior, and Seth Doege, a redshirt sophomore, came in briefly to run the offense.
"It's not his best performance, but we will practice this week and see who the best one is," Tuberville said. "We still have two senior quarterbacks. I want both to have a chance to play."
The Red Raiders (5-5, 3-5 Big 12) are still recovering from the lopsided 45-7 loss to the Sooners in which they got more rushing yards (182) than passing yards (144), something that hasn't happened since before Mike Leach took over in 2000.
Texas Tech's lone score was a 3-yard pass from receiver Detron Lewis to Darrin Moore. The last time the Red Raiders were held to a touchdown or less came in 2006 in a 30-6 loss at Colorado.
Weber State (6-4, 5-3 big Sky) is coming off a come-from-behind 27-26 win at Northern Arizona. Going into the fourth quarter, the Wildcats were behind by two touchdowns.
Backup quarterback Mike Hoke, who came in early in the third quarter after starter Cameron Higgins got injured, threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to Joe Collins and Vaingamalie Tafuna ran for a 2-yard score with 38 seconds remaining to give the Wildcats the win.
In the game's first play from scrimmage, Higgins set a Big Sky record with his 97th career touchdown pass.
Wildcats coach Ron McBride said he was proud his team kept working.
"We made big plays on both sides of the ball and never gave up," he said. "We will need that kind of fanatic effort this week."
Potts said he'll try to help his teammates get focused on Weber State. He pointed out how Appalachian State went on the road and upset Michigan to open the 2007 season.
"I'm sure they want to come in and dominate this game and beat us at our place," Potts said. "We know we will need to come out and play really hard and really well and try to limit the mistakes we have been making in key situations."
Texas Tech hosts Houston in its season finale next week. A win over the Cougars would keep the Red Raiders from having to use a win over a FCS team this season to go to a bowl game.
"It is a reward and it is always a memorable experience if you get to go to a bowl game," Tuberville said. "Hopefully, we finish up on a strong note against two non-conference teams."
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