 "Photo: Coleman Morefield")
The Texas Tech football team displayed some of its younger players in the Red Raiders' 75-7 win over Northwestern (La.) State.
In the second half of the NSU game, some young players saw significant time on offense and defense including four redshirt freshmen, three true freshmen and four sophomores.
At wide receiver, grayshirt freshman Lyle Leong and true freshman Detron Lewis saw time on the field against the Demons. Leong finished the game with two receptions for 17 yards and one touchdown. Lewis had two catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns.
Leong's touchdown catch was his first after seeing action in all five games in 2007. Northwestern State was Lewis' first appearance this season. Leong's season totals come to nine receptions for 97 yards.
Tech junior quarterback Graham Harrell said Leong has impressed him throughout the season with his leaping ability on the field.
"I thought they did really, really well," Harrell said. "Lyle's a great player. Obiviously, he can jump. I think he won the state championship in high jumping in 5-A which is pretty impressive. He goes and gets the ball; he has probably better hands than anyone on the team honestly. He doesn't ever drop balls. He's a great player and he's made some great catches just going up and getting the ball."
Other receivers who saw playing time were sophomores Adrian Reese and Landon Hoefer. Reese also has seen time in all five games this season.
Redshirt freshman Taylor Potts finished Saturday's game completing 9-of-12 passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns, all of which are season-highs for Potts. He also saw action against Rice and SMU.
"He played with a lot of composure, considering coming off the bench," Tech coach Mike Leach said. "He has been very effective every time he has come out there."
Redshirt freshman running back Aaron Crawford had 13 carries for 30 yards. Crawford had the most carries by a running back against Northwestern State. His gains on the ground were second to Shannon Woods who led with 45 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Defensively, redshirt freshman Brian Duncan started at middle linebacker for the first time this season. Duncan led the team in tackles against the Demons. Other contributions to the defense includes freshman Colby Whitlock who also has played in all five games in 2007. He finished the game with three tackles and also recorded a sack against SMU earlier in the season.
Duncan said the change for him to start was a call from interim defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill last week.
"We were coming in from the hotel, and we had some stuff happen and coach (McNeill) called my number and said 'you're going to have to go out there and start,'" Duncan said. "Started as soon as we came back from the hotel in the meeting."
Duncan now has 12 tackles on the season including three for a loss.
"I think the young guys are good, and it's good they're on our team," Harrell said. "(The future) looks good for the next couple of years. We look forward to those guys. I think a lot of them are going to have a big role in a year or so or maybe if someone goes down this year. It's good to know they're ready to play; they're going to be a special unit as well."
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