Texas ties Tech

It was the game-breaker. Texas' fullback Trip Gallaher caught a pass and hit a gap at full speed. Instantly behind the defense, he even had enough time to cut back to the center of the field to score the try right under Tech's posts, setting up an easy conversion to put Texas on top, 12-5. In such a defensive struggle, Texas felt confident that they would go out with a win. Tech wasn't done, though, and made short work of moving the ball back down the field, then sweeping from the left sideline to the right corner of the end-goal for the try. Still, the tying conversion would have to be kicked from the sideline, and Tech's kicker had already missed a conversion from an easier angle and a penalty kick earlier in the game, so Texas expected to stay on top by two, hold on for 5 more minutes, and walk off the field with another victory.

Some players, though, have that extra little something that kicks in when the game is on the line, hones your senses, and puts the ball through the posts, in the hoop, over the line, etc. Players like Ryan Bailey, Acie Law IV... and Texas Tech's place kicker on Saturday. If you're going to make one kick on the day, you'd better make it this one. From absolutely the toughest spot on the field, he hooked it through the uprights, the Raider crowd went wild, and, for one fleeting moment, Texas Tech had just beaten Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

Then the cheers softened a bit, and it was just Texas vs. Texas Tech tied 12-12 on a hot day in Lubbock. The ball stalled around midfield and the game was over before either team had time to mount a serious attack. No overtime, no shootout, just a draw.

While Texas had hoped for a win and come very close, they can't be disappointed with taking part in such a well-played game. The entire affair was similar to an old fashioned heavyweight title bout, played out on an inch-deep layer of hay covering the dirt, the match consisted mainly of Texas and Tech exchanging body blows in the dust all afternoon. When Texas scored a try in the left corner of the end-goal early on in the first half and looked to be in control, Tech's defense stiffened and stopped Texas just short on their only other major penetration of the half, kicking the ball about two-thirds the length of the field to set up their own opportunity. After a very long and physical goal-line stand which saw Tech's mauls stopped inches short of the goal line again and again, Texas finally conceded the tying try, which would also be the last score of the half.

The second half followed the boxing match theme, as both sides began with a series of missed opportunities to land the knockout blow, struggling to win that last meter, but having each effort matched by the opponent's defense. Texas centers Justin Peipart and Graham Grunow were credited by the coaches with the Man of the Match title for setting the defensive tone and smothering Tech's back line, a big reason that Texas was able to hold back the Raiders as long as they did. When Gallaher finally broke the stalemate and scored, Tech answered, and when the ball sailed through the uprights, it seemed as if the last punch had been thrown. The last few minutes of the half were marked by more smothering defense as Tech simply refused to let Texas erase that last try.

The second side match went much the same as the game against Rice, with each side scoring one try in the first half. Texas' try came on a pounding drive deep in Tech territory, and the conversion failed, but Tech's try came on a dropped ball that a Tech winger kicked downfield off the ground, then outran Texas' scrum half while he dribbled the ball three times soccer-style, recovering it just before falling down for the try under the posts. The second half went all Texas' way, as they scored 26 unanswered points behind great play from the back line and the Man of the Match, Texas 8-man Max Tuley, to go out on top, 31-7.

Next week will be Texas' toughest test so far: A road trip to College Station to take on the #8 Aggies. Texas can't afford to give anything but one-hundred percent for the full eighty in this one, and eliminating mistakes will be key. Both teams will have a lot riding on this one, as even though A&M went down to LSU to open league play, one LSU misstep could have A&M right back in the mix for the conference, and a win for Texas Saturday would keep the Longhorns in control of their own destiny. Don't expect any stops to be pulled in College Station as both teams are in a must-win situation. The Aggies need to win this to keep their shot at the conference title alive, and Texas wants put itself back on the map as the annual Texas conference representative. Hopefully some of you 'Horns in hiding will turn up for the game, as Texas will need all the help they can get.

Texas is 1-0-1 in conference play this season.

Editors note: On February 26th, the West Rugby Union determined that Texas Tech used a non-registered player in this match and this would result as a Texas Tech forfeit.