LUBBOCK, Texas (Ticker) -- The shootout between Philip Rivers
and Kliff Kingsbury ultimately was decided by the punishing runs
of T.A. McLendon.
McLendon scored his fifth touchdown of the game on an eight-yard
run in the first overtime as 16th-ranked North Carolina State
squandered a 28-point lead before escaping with a wild 51-48 win
over Texas Tech.
McLendon carried 32 times for 150 yards, also scoring on runs of
nine, one, four and two yards for the Wolfpack, who improved to
5-0 for the first time since 1991 despite almost blowing a
38-10 lead midway through the third quarter.
"Nobody said it was going to be easy coming in here," N.C. State
coach Chuck Amato said. "This is Big 12 country and football is
big in Texas. Even when we were up 38-10, I kept telling them
this is not over. They are not going to give up. They have a lot
of weapons and a great quarterback."
Texas Tech (2-2) had a chance to win in the final minute of
regulation, but Robert Treece missed a 39-yard field goal
attempt.
The Red Raiders were unable to move the ball on their first
overtime possession, settling for a 33-yard field goal by
Treece.
Rivers completed 20-of-32 passes for 301 yards without a
touchdown, but he did not need to throw the ball in overtime as
McLendon had runs of 11 and nine yards before he went around
left end and dove into the end zone for the winning score.
The five rushing TDs tied a school record set by Stan Fritts
against Wake Forest in 1972. McLendon's final score ended a game
that featured 979 yards of offense.
Kingsbury lost his battle with Eli Manning of Mississippi last
week, and also came up short this week against Rivers, who
entered the game first in the nation in passing efficiency.
Kingsbury completed 27-of-50 for 273 yards and three scores.
"It's tough. You kind of live for games like this, but we had
our chances and it didn't come down to one play," Kingsbury
said.
Kingsbury began the comeback with a five-yard TD pass to Anton
Paige late in the third quarter. Vincent Meeks had a two-yard TD
run on the second play of the fourth quarter to cut the lead to
38-24.
Kingsbury found Mickey Peters in the corner of the end zone with
8:09 left, cutting the deficit to 38-31.
Rivers finally answered for the Wolfpack, scrambling before
connecting on a 72-yard pass to Jerricho Cotchery that set up a
two-yard TD run by McLendon to make it 45-31.
Texas Tech fought back on a two-yard TD run by Taurean Henderson
before Rivers threw an ill-advised pass over the middle that
was intercepted by Raymond Pierce, setting up a 13-yard TD pass
from Kingsbury to Paige that that tied the score at 45-45 with
4:34 left.
"Overall, I thought I played pretty well except for the
interception," Rivers said. "This was a great environment to
play in, a great state to play in and a great team to play."
Henderson carried 21 times for 141 yards and Paige caught seven
passes for 81 yards.
North Carolina State scored three touchdowns in the first eight
minutes of the third quarter.
McLendon scored on a one-yard run run with 11:11 left in the
third quarter. Less than a minute later, Kingsbury fumbled a
snap from center and defensive end Shawn Price returned it 34
yards for a score.
The lead grew to 38-10 on a three-yard TD run by McLendon.
"We lost this game at the beginning of the third quarter," Red
Raiders coach Mike Leach said.
Kingsbury drove Texas Tech downfield on the first possession of
the game, capped by a two-yard TD run by Henderson.
The Wolfpack responded with the next 17 points, beginning with a
43-yard field goal by Austin Herbert.
McLendon scored on a nine-yard run to give the Wolfpack a 10-7
lead after one quarter.
Rivers scored on a sneak from one yard to increase the lead to
17-7 before Treece kicked a 38-yard field goal to cut the
deficit to 17-10 at intermission.
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