COLLEGE FOOTBALL : SOUTHWEST ROUNDUP : Texas Tech Ends Texas A&M;’s SWC Streak at 29

Zach Thomas returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown with 30 seconds left and Texas Tech stunned No. 8 Texas A&M;, 14-7, Saturday at Lubbock, Tex., ending the Aggies’ streak of 29 unbeaten games in the Southwest Conference.

“I faked the blitz and read the quarterback’s eyes and cut the ball off,” Thomas said. “I saw the end zone and just ran for the line.”

Fans from the crowd of 51,205 stormed the field to celebrate the first Red Raider victory over Texas A&M; since 1989.

After a celebration penalty following Thomas’ interception, the Aggies had one last chance but got only to midfield before time expired.

“I was proud of our team because we could have let up a million times, and we never did,” Texas Tech Coach Spike Dykes said after his first victory over a top 10 opponent. “We never panicked when we made mistakes, and we never got our heads down.”

Tech, 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the SWC, forced five turnovers and held Leeland McElroy, the nation’s leader in all-purpose offense, to 80 total yards. McElroy had been averaging 16 points per game but scored only once Saturday.

The Aggies (2-2, 0-1) hadn’t lost a SWC game since falling, 28-27, to Texas in 1990. Once aspiring for a national championship, Texas A&M; now is on a two-game losing streak, having fallen, 29-21, two weeks ago to No. 4 Colorado.

Turnovers made the difference for the Red Raiders, who recovered all four of their fumbles. The Aggies lost two fumbles and Corey Pullig had three passes intercepted.

McElroy, averaging 132 rushing yards per game, got only 80 yards in 27 carries and sprained his left ankle in the third quarter. He was tackled for losses seven times.

Tech’s Zebbie Lethridge completed 14 of 28 passes for 227 yards, but was sacked seven times.

No. 20 Texas 37, Rice 13--For a half, the Longhorns looked like the team that lost to the Owls last year for the first time in 29 years, but the Texas offense made up for a poor-tackling defense and scored 24 unanswered points in the second half in an SWC game at Austin, Tex.

“The good thing about football is there are two halves. Thank goodness for that, because the first half, we didn’t play the way we should,” Texas Coach John Mackovic said.

Ricky Williams ran for two touchdowns and James Brown threw for two as Texas (4-1, 2-0) avenged a 19-17 loss to the Owls (1-3-1, 0-1) last year.

The Texas defense gave up 428 yards, including 275 on the ground.

Texas Christian 31, Houston 21--Andre Davis scored four touchdowns and rushed for 166 yards for TCU in an SWC victory at Fort Worth, Tex.

Davis, who carried 28 times, became the first player in TCU history to rush for at least 100 yards in 14 games.

Davis scored on a two-yard pass from Max Knake and ran 20, 17, and one yards for touchdowns in the second half as the Horned Frogs (3-1, 1-0) overpowered the Cougars (0-5, 0-1). Davis set up the 17-yard scoring run with a 49-yard run.

The loss was Houston’s 10th in a row, dating back to last October.