Morris Gives Tech a Boost in 21-19 Upset

Who, No. 5 Texas A&M; might ask, is Sammy Morris?

For the record, he’s a reserve running back with little action since 1996 because of academic problems. On Saturday, he was Ricky Williams-like, running for 170 yards in pacing Texas Tech to an improbable 21-19 upset of the Aggies at Lubbock, Texas.

“Coach told me to be prepared to get a lot of carries,” Morris said while watching students tear down the goal posts. “I was getting a lot of reps in practice but I didn’t think I would get that many carries [33].”

Morris wasn’t even mentioned by Coach Spike Dykes in the week leading up to the game as a possible replacement for Williams, who is sidelined for the season because of a knee injury after running for 1,582 yards last year.

Down 21-10 at the half, Texas A&M; (3-1 overall, 0-1 Big 12) inched back on the foot of Terence Kitchens, whose four field goals included two in the third quarter and another with 8:15 to play.

With the Aggies again driving and needing only a field goal, Tech’s Dorian Pitts sacked quarterback Randy McCown, whose pass on the next play was intercepted by Antwan Alexander with 1:28 to play. Tech improved to 2-2, 1-0.

No. 6 Nebraska 38, Oklahoma State 14--Eric Crouch threw for 145 yards and a touchdown and ran for a score as the Cornhuskers defeated the Cowboys at Lincoln, Neb.

Crouch, who was 7 of 13 passing, also gained 61 yards in 11 carries and Correll Buckhalter ran for two touchdowns for Nebraska (5-0, 2-0), which extended its unbeaten streak over Oklahoma State to 36 games.

The Cornhuskers, who haven’t lost to Oklahoma State (2-2, 0-1) since 1961, gained 378 yards against a defense that had allowed 182.3 coming into the game. Nebraska’s defense allowed just 273 yards, including 85 passing.

No. 13 Kansas State 35, No. 15 Texas 17--David Allen returned a punt for a touchdown and also ran for a score as the Wildcats capitalized on six turnovers by Longhorn quarterback Major Applewhite at Austin, Texas.

Jamie Rheem kicked a school-record five field goals for Kansas State (4-0, 2-0), which converted three interceptions and three fumbles by Applewhite into 26 points. The Longhorns fell to 4-2, 1-1.

Kansas 27, Southern Methodist 9--Dylen Smith, replacing senior Zac Wegner as starting quarterback, threw two touchdown passes as the Jayhawks overcame a rash of running back injuries to beat the winless Mustangs (0-4) at Lawrence, Kan.

Smith, a highly regarded transfer from Santa Monica City College, had been expected to start after Kansas (2-3) was blown out by the first three Division I-A teams it played. He completed 19 of 34 passes for 215 yards and two scores and also was intercepted three times.

Missouri 27, Memphis 17--Kirk Farmer threw a fourth-quarter touchdown and ran for another as Missouri defeated Memphis at Memphis, Tenn.

The two scores gave Missouri (3-1) some breathing room after Memphis (1-4) cut the Missouri lead to 13-10 with just over four minutes left in the third quarter.

Baylor 23, North Texas 10--Derek Lagway and Melvin Barnett each ran for second-half touchdowns as the Bears (1-4) beat the Golden Eagles (1-3) at Waco, Texas, to snap a 10-game losing streak and give rookie Coach Kevin Steele his first victory.