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Harrell, Texas Tech Overcome 14-Point Deficit To Prevail

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By TRAVIS REED The Associated Press

Published: January 2, 2008

JACKSONVILLE - Texas Tech didn't score 40 or more points, as it had all season. Through three quarters, the nation's top passing offense couldn't score much at all.

But Graham Harrell stayed with it, finishing 44 of 69 for 407 yards and three TDs, and the Red Raiders scored just enough to overcome a 14-point deficit and stun No. 21 Virginia 31-28 on a late field goal in the Gator Bowl on Tuesday.

Alex Trlica hit from 41 yards, despite swirling wind, with 2 seconds remaining. It was the third game-winner of the senior kicker's career, and came at an appropriate time. Earlier in the game, Trlica became the first kicker in school history to score at least 100 points in a season.

"I think it gets easier with every time," Trlica said of winning field goals. "Compared to the first time I had to do it and this time, I was a lot more calm. I knew they were going to call timeout."

Virginia coach Al Groh did, but it didn't faze Trlica.

Tech overcame several mental errors, including pivotal penalties and a fumble, to come back from a 28-14 fourth-quarter deficit. Its aggressive pass offense couldn't score much for three quarters, but Harrell still managed to rack up Gator Bowl records for yards, completions and attempts.

In the final period, the Raiders finally found the end zone as they were accustomed to all year. Twice, actually, and Trlica's field goal did the rest.

"I was thinking, 'Hey, if we can just get into field-goal range we're probably going to win this,'" Harrell said. "But I wanted to go throw it myself. When we kick, I just hate kicking. You're no longer in control."

Just a few minutes earlier, the Cavaliers seemed to be in control. A Tech drive kept alive by two fourth-down conversions sputtered with 8 minutes left, and All-American Michael Crabtree couldn't haul in a prayer in the end zone on fourth-and-1 with 3:16 remaining.

But a few minutes after that, Harrell found him in the same spot against the same defender, and this time it worked - despite a pass interference call.

The Red Raiders overcame a tremendous effort by Virginia tailback Mikell Simpson, who ran for 170 yards on 20 carries - including an NCAA bowl-record 96-yard TD run - and caught another touchdown. Pretty impressive, considering he was playing receiver for the Cavaliers until backfield injuries pressed him into service in October.

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