DMN: Texas Tech Doesn't Get an 'Easy' Win over SMU

[MrMustang1965]

UNIVERSITY PARK – SMU showed improvement from last season and Texas Tech finally turned up its offense in the season opener at Ford Stadium on Saturday night.

The Red Raiders defeated the Mustangs, 27-13, in front of a stadium-record crowd of 34,689, but it wasn't that easy.

The game was marred by a brawl in which players from both teams threw punches at each other after time expired. The melee lasted three minutes.

The Raiders' high-powered offense, ranked No. 1 in total offense and passing in 2003, didn't get started until the second half. Led by fifth-year senior quarterback Sonny Cumbie, Texas Tech had 537 yards of total offense. Cumbie, who was making his first start, threw for 470 yards and four touchdowns, completing 40 of 66 attempts.

SMU, a 241/2-point underdog, trailed only 6-3 at halftime, holding off two Tech drives that reached inside the 20-yard line.

But the Red Raiders scored 21 consecutive points to take a commanding 27-6 lead midway through the fourth quarter. The Mustangs scored their only touchdown with 3:07 to play.

SMU tied a school record for consecutive losses with its 13th.