Football Victorious Over Iowa St. in Big 12 Opener
June 21, 1999 | Football
September 26, 1998
By CHUCK SCHOFFNER
AP Sports Writer
AMES, Iowa (AP) - Texas Tech went to the air when its running game stalled and beat Iowa State 31-24 Saturday behind Matt Tittle's two touchdown passes and Donnie Hart's sensational catches.
The highly anticipated duel between Texas Tech tailback Ricky Williams and Iowa State's Darren Davis didn't materialize as both defenses loaded up against the run.
Title and Hart hooked up on three big plays that made the difference in the Big 12 opener as Tech (4-0) achieved its best start since 1976, when the Red Raiders won their first eight games. Iowa State (2-2) was denied its first three-game winning streak since 1989.
Title completed 7-of-13 passes for 205 yards, including touchdown throws of 68 yards to Hart and 3 yards to Jonathan Hawkins. Hart finished with five catches for 163 yards.
Williams, who entered the game leading the nation in rushing with an average of 221.7 yards, managed 105 yards in 29 carries and scored on runs of 1 and 2 yards. Davis, who had ranked fourth with a 171-yard average, carried 27 times for 86 yards.
Iowa State failed to capitalize on a golden opportunity in the third quarter after taking a 10-7 lead on the first of Todd Bandhauer's three touchdown passes to Damien Groce, who made a diving catch in the end zone to complete a 32-yard play.
The Cyclones got the ball right back when Carl Gomez's squib kick ricocheted off Tech's Kenny Kacal and Kevin Wilson recovered. But Tech forced a punt after three plays and then went 70 yards in eight plays for the go-ahead touchdown.
Tittle started the drive with a 37-yard completion to Hart, who caught the ball as he was falling after defensive back Breon Ansley tipped it.
The Tech quarterback saved the Red Raiders when he recovered Williams' fumble at the Iowa State 3. He flipped a touchdown pass to Hawkins, a reserve fullback, on the next play. Tech again forced a punt and Hart ran a deep route on the first play from his 32. He was five yards behind linebacker Ab Turner when he caught Tittle's pass and easily won the race to the end zone. Tittle and Hart later teamed up on a 41-yard play, Hart making a diving catch at the Iowa State 9 to set up Chris Birkholz's 19-yard field goal that put Tech up 24-10.
A 31-yard pass from Tittle to Williams set up Tech's first touchdown, a 2-yard run by Williams late in the first quarter. Williams tacked on a 1-yard touchdown run with 7:03 left.
Iowa State pulled to within a touchdown on Bandhauer's scoring passes of 20 and 5 yards to Groce, the last with 2:15 left. But Tech's Derek Dorris recovered Iowa State's onside kick and the Red Raiders ran out the clock.