tech spring practice

Texas Tech senior wide receiver Lyle Leong, right, reaches for a pass while being defended by sophomore defensive back Will Ford during practice Monday at Jones AT&T Stadium. Monday was the first day of Spring practice.

Monday, March 22, 2010. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)


Texas Tech quarterbacks (from left) Steven Sheffield, Jacob Karam, and Taylor Potts look to throw during drills Monday at Jones AT&T Stadium. Monday was the first day of Spring practice.

Read Don Williams' related article: Changes evident as Red Raiders open spring football
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22 points in less than 3 minutes = amazing comeback!

CANYON — All season, New Deal head coach Ron Mayo said there was something different about this year’s team.

On Friday night, the No. 5 Lions had to reach deep down to find that something different. Once they did, it turned into one of the greatest comebacks of the season.
New Deal turned two fourth-quarter fumbles by Sunray into touchdowns, and the Lions scored 22 unanswered points in the final 7:12 of the game for a 32-28 victory in a Class 1A Division II regional semifinal at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium... (continue reading George Watson's story - Fourth-quarter rally sends New Deal to next round)

Springlake-Earth goes down to defending state champs

CANYON — During its outstanding playoff run, Springlake-Earth knew not to panic when it got behind.

But getting down to a team that knows what to do with a lead is a different story. Stratford, the defending Class 1A Division II state champion, used its physical offensive line to drive a pounding running game, ending the Wolverines’ season in a 56-20 victory Friday afternoon at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium... (continue reading George Watson's story, Stratford ends Wolverines’ playoff run)

praying for your enemies

I have to say, I was very impressed with Texas Tech's offensive line Saturday when they played Oklahoma. Yes, they played great, but when I saw them kneel and pray for an Oklahoma defender who was being cared for by his team's trainers, I was proud to be in Lubbock.
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See more photos and read the related stories regarding Tech's victory over Oklahoma - HERE

Cowboys defense too much for Red Raiders

The Oklahoma State Cowboys defense was locked in Saturday night as they defeated Texas Tech 24-17 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. It seemed like Perrish Cox swatted away or intercepted dozens of passes from outstretched Red Raider fingers. I'm sure Tech's quarterback uncertainties didn't help either. Check out RedRaiders.com for more game stats & photos.

Oklahoma State's Patrick Lavine celebrates after returning an interception for a touchdown against Texas Tech during the second half of their game Saturday, Nov, 14, 2009 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)


Cute kid, but he needs a little work on his "S".
Oklahoma State's Perrish Cox, left, deflects a pass in the end zone intended for Texas Tech's Tramain Swindall, right, during the first half of their game Saturday, Nov, 14, 2009 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

I think this accurately reflects the love Tech fans have for the Cowboys.

A&M over Tech 52-30

To my great disappointment, Texas Tech quarterback Steven Sheffield was injured during their game in Lincoln, NB last week. Taylor Potts returned to his starting position, but after a poor performance was replaced by third-string quarterback Seth Doege.

Texas Tech's Sam Fehoko, center, performs the Haka dance prior to Saturday's game against Texas A&M, Saturday, Oct, 24, 2009 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Texas Tech's Harrison Jeffers, center, fumbles the ball as he jumps into Texas A&M's Kyle Mangan, right, and Garrick Williams, bottom during the second half of their game Saturday, Oct, 24, 2009 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Tech lost 52-30. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)


Texas Tech quarterback Taylor Potts walks off the field after failing to convert on 4th and 1 in the second quarter against Texas A&M Saturday, Oct, 24, 2009 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. After a poor performance, Potts was replaced by third string quarterback Seth Doege. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Texas Tech's Marlon Williams, left, Stefan Loucks, right, and Britton Barbee, bottom, force Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill to fumble during the first half of their game Saturday, Oct, 24, 2009 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Texas Tech fans file into section 113, one of the new sections at Jones AT&T Stadium, before Tech's game against Texas A&M Saturday, Oct, 24, 2009 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Shef serves up a can to K-State

Texas Tech quarterback Steven Sheffield threw for 490 yards and 7 touchdowns during his first collegiate start Saturday, October 10, against Kansas State. Sheffield set a Texas Tech record for most yards in a single half.

Texas Tech's Tramain Swindall catches a short pass over the middle ... yadda yadda yadda... 52-yards later he scores a touchdown with the help of a few key blocks, Saturday against Kansas State. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Texas Tech quarterback Steven Sheffield throws deep down the sidelines to receiver Jacoby Franks for a 72-yard touchdown, Saturday against Kansas State. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

backup sparks Tech over New Mexico

With less than two minutes left in the first half and the score tied at 7 against New Mexico, backup quarterback Steven Sheffield entered the game to replace injured QB Taylor Potts. Sheffield blitzed down field to score before the end of the half and carried the Red Raiders to a 48-28 win in convincing fashion.

Potts over Rice

Texas Tech wide receiver Lyle Leong Jr. hauls in one of 7 touchdowns thrown by quarterback Taylor Potts Saturday night as Texas Tech defeated Rice 55-10.

Saturday, September 12, 2009 (Photo by Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
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for more stats and photos visit redraiders.com or click HERE.

inspirational upset

Lubbock High upset Midland Lee 25-23 Friday night at Lowrey Field and this was the photo that most caught my attention. Sometime in the first half there was a fumble and Lubbock High's Jonathan Trevino scrambled through the legs of a couple players to come up with a huge recovery for his team. It was only as I looked back at the photos to tag and add audio for future captions that I noticed Trevino had only one hand. Inspirational.


Lubbock High's Jonathan Trevino, center, celebrates after recovering a fumble against Midland Lee during the first half, Friday at Lowrey Field. Lubbock High upset Midland Lee 25-23.

Friday, September 11, 2009 (Photo by Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
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for additional stats and photos visit lonestarvaristy.com or click HERE

sacked eye to eye

Coronado defensive end Taylor Swift, bottom, sacks El Paso Franklin quarterback Joshua Valenzuela, top, during the second quarter Friday night at Lowrey Field. Friday, August 28, 2009 (Photo by Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)



Football season has begun.

TT Red & Black

Texas Tech's Detron Lewis catches a touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Steven Sheffield over defensive back Brent Nickerson during the Red & Black spring practice game Saturday, April 18, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

2009 AT&T Cotton Bowl

(Caption from first photo in above slideshow) Texas Tech captains Graham Harrell (quarterback), Louis Vasquez (guard), Darcel McBath (safety) and Jake Ratliff (defensive end) take the field prior to the 2009 Cotton Bowl against Ole Miss, Friday in Dallas.
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DALLAS – Player after Texas Tech player said the Red Raiders were excited to be at the Cotton Bowl. True or not, it didn’t make them perform any better.

Spotted a two-touchdown lead in the first quarter, No. 7 Tech folded and lost to No. 25 Mississippi 47-34 Friday before a record crowd of 88,175 on a warm, sunny afternoon. For a program accustomed to postseason wins under Mike Leach, it was the most lackluster bowl showing since 2000 in Houston.

“It’s not the way we wanted to end the season, but it’s the way it happened,’’ said senior quarterback Graham Harrell, who finished his career by breaking the major-college record for career touchdown passes... (Read more from Don Williams' story: Bowl Weevils: Rebels' Cotton win spoils Harrell's mark)

Frenship heartbreak 37-35 vs Denton Guyer

(First photo in above slideshow) Frenship senior Buddy Mull (55) yells in frustration as Denton Guyer celebrates their last second victory Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

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All season, Frenship had found a way to win by gaining that one extra yard, getting that all-important touchdown or making that extra big play on defense.

In the Class 4A Division I Region I Final at Jones AT&T Stadium Saturday afternoon, it was Denton Guyer that took that ability and put an end to the sixth-ranked Tigers’ perfect season. Sam Alspach’s 24-yard field goal as time expired brought the Wildcats all the way back from a 21-point first-quarter deficit for a 37-35 victory.

“I think the thing that happened mostly from the second quarter on and into the second half was we were having a hard time blocking their defensive front,” Frenship coach Brad Davis said. “Big plays kept us in the game, but we never got consistent where I get into a rhythm calling plays and getting a drive going, at least after the first quarter we didn’t. The first quarter was all ours and then we had to hang on, and we hung on until about two seconds to go in the game.”... (Continue reading End of the Line)
View more game photos HERE.
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Here is my Missed Photo of the Game:

Down 21-7 with 7:14 left in the third quarter, Denton Guyer's Antonio Burton blocked a Frenship punt and recovered it for a touchdown. To me, this was the turning point of the game... and I missed it. Granted, I got some nice frames of Burton scooping up the football, crossing the endline, and celebrating his touchdown, but I wanted this blocked punt. To me, this punt was unique because most blocked punts are made when the player dives on the punter's foot - this one was made high in the air. Also, this play scared Frenship into giving up a safety instead of punting with 3:06 remaining in the 4th quarter. (A decision that likely cost Frenship the game). Missed moments and mistakes are life's best lessons.

What could I have done differently? I've been thinking about that off and on for the past couple days. I suppose the easiest thing would have been to let go of the focus button when I initially knew I had the punter in focus (I use the thumb focus button on my Nikon D2HS so I can leave the focus alone and keep firing off frames if needs be). In this instance I must have kept my thumb on the focus button which is why as the play continued and my framing adjusted the camera focused on the brick background. A second option could have been to change my focus metering from the center point to the diamond. Third, I could have shot with a wider lens (70-200). This is the second 'missed' blocked punt this football season and both were when I was debating between using my 300mm or switching to the 70-200mm.

Below is the uncropped series of photos on the play.

HS playoff football: Idalou 26, Brady 18

Idalou defenders swarm and strip the ball from Brady's Seth Bozeman (2) during the second half Saturday during the class 2A regional championship at Midland. Idalou defeated Brady 26-18. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
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MIDLAND - Simply put, Idalou finished drives. Brady did not.

That was all the difference there was in the Wildcats' 26-18 victory over the Bulldogs in a Class 2A Division II Region I semifinal Saturday afternoon at Grande Communications Stadium. The win puts the Wildcats (12-1) into the fourth round for the second straight year where they await the winner of Saturday's late game between Cisco and District 3-2A rival Roosevelt.

Brady (11-2) outgained Idalou in total yardage 309-254, but the Bulldogs could not find the end zone until they scored twice in the last 40 seconds of the game to make the score closer than the game actually was.

Up to that point, the Wildcats had stuffed Brady at almost every turn, including a goalline stand to end the first half in which Brady ran eight plays inside the Idalou 12 and was inside the 1 before being turned away. Brady had two separate drives that totaled 43 plays and covered 135 total yards, but no points... (Continue reading the related article: Wildcats' drive through playoffs continues with win over Bulldogs)

HS playoff football video: Muleshoe 42, Clyde 7

Click ABOVE to watch video game highlights of Muleshoe and Clyde.
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WOLFFORTH - Muleshoe decided to have a second Thanksgiving dinner on Friday night.

A host of Muleshoe defenders tackle Clyde's Colby Smith (21) during the Mules' 42-7 playoff victory on Friday in Wolfforth.

The Muleshoe defense provided the meat, and quarterback Wes Wood did the carving as the No. 4 Mules beat Clyde, 42-7, at Tiger Stadium to advance to the Class 2A state semifinals for the first time since 2000.

“It means everything to these kids,” Muleshoe head coach David Wood said. “They all made the trip and watched that game eight years ago and said, We want to be that team.’ And now they have the same chance to try and get to the state finals.

Muleshoe (13-0) forced seven turnovers against Clyde - four in the first half - to knock the Bulldogs off their rushing attack... (Continue reading the related article: Mules kick aside Clyde to reach state semis)

Oklahoma slams Texas Tech 65-21

(First photo in above slideshow) Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree (5) is swallowed up by OU's defense during OU's 65-21 victory over Texas Tech Saturday in Norman.
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Disappointing was the word for Texas Tech football fans in Lubbock Saturday as the Oklahoma Sooners dominated the Red Raiders, probably spoiling Tech's dream of getting to the national championship game.

Sports bars like Buffalo Wild Wings and Beef O'Brady's were down to a few fans by the third quarter. Earlier, parking lots were so full people were parking blocks away.

"Our defense didn't show up tonight," said Chris Noffsinger, a Tech junior from Austin. "The whole team's not themselves tonight."

The game left the Red Raider faithful a sad group, ending three weeks of excitement since Tech beat then-number one Texas and vaulted to an unprecedented number two ranking... (Continue the related article: Tech fans crushed as championship hopes fade)

Idalou rolls past Alpine 56-7

Idalou's Tanner Cook (24) leaps over Alpine's Saul Ordonez (27) Saturday afternoon in Andrews. Idalou defeated Alpine 56-7 in this class 2-A championship.
(Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Idalou's Rynn Smith (10) scores a 60-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Sean Reagan against Alpine Saturday afternoon in Andrews. Idalou defeated Alpine 56-7 in this class 2-A championship.
(Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Idalou quarterback Sean Reagan (12) runs for one of his two rushing touchdowns against Alpine Saturday afternoon in Andrews. Reagan also threw four touchdowns and 308 yards. Idalou defeated Alpine 56-7 in this class 2-A championship.
(Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

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ANDREWS - When Idalou football coach Johnny Taylor said earlier in the week that quarterback Sean Reagan has been throwing the ball better lately, it wasn't just lip service.

Reagan showed the Wildcats will be more than just a running team in the 2008 playoffs, throwing for 308 yards and four touchdowns. Oh, yeah, he also ran for 58 yards and two scores and had three sacks on defense as the Wildcats ripped Alpine 56-7 in a Class 2A Division II Bi-District playoff Saturday afternoon at the Mustang Bowl.

"It was nice to throw it a little more than we have been," said Reagan, who had just 1,014 yards and 11 TDs going into the game. "But we've got to get it done when we do, though. We always think we can go deep and we have enough speed." (Continue reading the related article: Reagan tosses four TDs)

Roosevelt gets historic playoff win over Crane

Roosevelt's Coby Torres (21) and Cory Sherrill (63) celebrate after tackling Crane running back Jordan Mendoza (12) Friday night during a Region I-Division II game in Andrews.

(Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
Roosevelt's Kevin Fowler (10) doesn't complete a pass as Crane's Teague Esparza (3) defends him closely, Friday night during a Region I-Division II game in Andrews.

(Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
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ANDREWS - As a history teacher, Roosevelt football coach Greg Poynor has a special appreciation for when the past meets the present.

But maybe not as much as the Acuff community appreciates what Poynor and his first-year coaching staff have done in 2008. And Friday night was a historic step. Coby Torres ran for one touchdown and caught another as the Eagles defense shut down the high-powered Crane passing attack to capture a 21-14 victory in a Class 2A Division II bi-district playoff at the Mustang Bowl.

It is the first playoff victory - according to Poynor - for a Roosevelt football team since 1971. Making just its second playoff appearance since 1986, Roosevelt advances to face either Childress or Sanford-Fritch in the area round... (Continue reading the related article: Roosevelt gets historic playoff win over Crane)

Texas Tech dominates Oklahoma State 56-20

It doesn’t matter so much anymore that Texas Tech’s non-conference football schedule consisted of two lower-division teams and one each from the Big Sky Conference and Conference USA.

Big 12 Conference teams that take care of business in league play usually get rewarded in the BCS.

Tech (10-0) took a firmer grip on the No. 2 spot in the BCS standings released Sunday, remaining on track to play Alabama (10-0) in the national championship game on Jan. 8 in Miami, Fla., if both teams can stay unbeaten. They are the only two unbeatens left in the big six conferences.

Tech was No. 11 in the computer ratings when the first BCS standings were released on Oct. 19, but reached No. 1 in the computers on Sunday after three wins in a row over ranked teams, the latest being Saturday’s 56-20 blowout of then-No. 9 Oklahoma State... (continue reading the related article: Tech maintains No. 2 spot in BCS standings)