College Confidential

Arkansas State battles back against A&M

It's getting a little too close for comfort at Kyle Field. After a strong start offensively, the Aggies have struggled in the third quarter -- their possessions have ended in a punt, an interception and fumble -- and Arkansas State has closed the gap to 14-9 on a pair of field goals. We're heading to the fourth quarter.
-- Lori Dann

weather delay

Chattanooga may hope this keeps up.

a visible storm laced with lightning caused a 20-minute halftime extension and a nearby strike knocked out power to part of the stadium, including the new south end zone hdtv scoreboard. down 49-0, the mocs might just as soon call it a night. if they play the second half, there won't be many around to watch. good news for the bars in campus corner.

in a rare moved, bob stoops pulled quarterback sam bradford late in the second quarter (14-17, 151 yards, 2 touchdowns) and defensive coordinator brent venables--who hates making substitutions more than stoops--also began to plug in a few players not listed on the 2-deep about the same time.

--mike jones.

Stick a fork in it

K-State 42, UNT 0, third quarter

Wildcats QB Josh Freeman is doing his best Sam Bradford impression (remember last year?). Freeman (three passing TDs, one rushing) just scored from 9 yards on fourth-and-three. The slow process of UNT becoming competitive in games like this continues.

Hopefully, the injury that just caused UNT receiver Sam Dibrell to limp off the field after a catch isn't serious.

More in tomorrow's paper. Signing off, unless something here changes drastically.

--Troy Phillips

Horns lead, 28-10, at half

Texas' opener has just gone to halftime with the Longhorns on top of FAU, 28-10. The Owls scored on a 20-yard TD pass from Rusty Smith to Rob Housler with 1:50 left in the second quarter.

Some key halftime numbers: Texas QB Colt McCoy has completed 18-of-19 passes, for 160 yards and 2 TDs. The Longhorns have rushed 18 times for 101 yards and 2 TDs. Vondrell McGee (9 carries, 48 yards) has done most of the damage, with TE Blaine Irby (6 catches, 57 yards) emerging as a dependable replacement for departed Jermichael Finley.

_ Jimmy Burch

Texas Tech leads at the half

Despite some very sloppy play that would have gotten them in trouble if they were playing a more formidable opponent, the Texas Tech Red Raiders led Eastern Washington at the half, 28-17. The Eagles narrowed the deficit to 11 when Felipe Macias booted a 55-yard field goal _ it cleared the goal post by some eight yards _ on the final play of the first half.

Tech was its own worst enemy in the first half when it incredibly committed 13 penalties for 124 yards. At the half, Tech quarterback Graham Harrell was 23 of 33 for 237 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while Michael Crabtree had six catches for 47 yards and a TD, and Eric Morris hauled in four passes for 62 yards.

Eastern Washington quarterback Matt Nichols completed 17 of 29 passes for 156 yards and two interceptions in the first half.

-- Dwain Price

Texas Tech leads at the half

Despite some very sloppy play that would have gotten them in trouble if they were playing a more formidable opponent, the Texas Tech Red Raiders led Eastern Washington at the half, 28-17. The Eagles narrowed the deficit to 11 when Felipe Macias booted a 55-yard field goal _ it cleared the goal post by some eight yards _ on the final play of the first half.

Tech was its own worst enemy in the first half when it incredibly committed 13 penalties for 124 yards. At the half, Tech quarterback Graham Harrell was 23 of 33 for 237 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while Michael Crabtree had six catches for 47 yards and a TD, and Eric Morris hauled in four passes for 62 yards.

Eastern Washington quarterback Matt Nichols completed 17 of 29 passes for 156 yards and two interceptions in the first half.

-- Dwain Price

Eastern Washington hanging on

Quarterback Matt Nichols snuck into the end zone from a yard out as Eastern Washington closed to within 28-14 of Texas Tech with 2:44 leeft in the first half.

For Tech, the first half has been very sloppy as the Red Raiders have been flagged a whopping 13 times for 124 yards. And the first half isn't even over.

_ Dwain Price

Longhorns still rolling, 28-3

Texas QB Colt McCoy just added a 2-yard TD run, upping Texas' lead over FAU to 28-3 with 3:25 remaining in th first half. This TD drive was aided by a fake field goal, when holder Jordan Shipley ran for enough yards to get a first down. McCoy scored four plays later.

FAU still continues to move the ball crisply, especially through the air, despite the lopsided score. But the Longhorns keep coming up with drive-killing defensive plays at the right time.

_ Jimmy Burch

K-State 28, UNT 0 (halftime)

If it means anything, UNT trailed Oklahoma 49-0 at halftime a year ago to open the season. Probably apples to oranges. Todd Dodge and defensive coordinator Gary DeLoach need major adjustments to make this a game. UNT true freshman Royce Hill is getting worked over at left cornerback. K-State hasn't punted. UNT's offense has 81 yards and five first downs, but no turnovers. Little to no pressure up front for UNT's defense. UNT's Truman Spencer has two 51-yard punts, averaging 41.0 yards on six kicks. Backup deep snapper Troy Kokjohn is getting it done for UNT.

--Troy Phillips

Eastern Washington finally showed signs of life when Matt Johnson intercepted a Graham Harrell pass and returned it 37 yards to the Tech 7 on the third play of the second period. Three plays later, Eastern Washington tailback Alexis Alexander dove into the end zone from the 1-yard line to cut Tech's lead to 21-7.

But the Red Raiders took the ensuing kickoff and drove 90 yards in nine plays, finishing the drive with a 1-yard dive by tailback Shannon Woods, who scored his second TD of the game. That pushed Tech's lead back up to 21 at 28-7 with 10:54 remaining in the first half.

_ Dwain Price