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Remembering 2008: Ten years ago, Texas Tech took on Kaepernick; Nevada

By Matthew Conner

LAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 02: (L-R) Courtney Randall #35 of the Nevada Reno Wolf Pack is congratulated by quarterback Colin Kaepernick #10 and Brandon Wimberly #4 after Randall scored a touchdown against the UNLV Rebels in the second quarter of their game at Sam Boyd Stadium October 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nevada Reno won 44-26. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 02: (L-R) Courtney Randall #35 of the Nevada Reno Wolf Pack is congratulated by quarterback Colin Kaepernick #10 and Brandon Wimberly #4 after Randall scored a touchdown against the UNLV Rebels in the second quarter of their game at Sam Boyd Stadium October 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nevada Reno won 44-26. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Ten years ago, the 2008 Texas Tech football team faced a dangerous non-conference game on the road against a Nevada team led by a quarterback who has become quite famous in the decade since for reasons other than football.

Long before he became the most divisive figure in sports; back when the only knee he took was to run out the clock and no one cared what he did during the National Anthem, Colin Kaepernick was one of the nation’s most dangerous quarterbacks who, in week-two of the 2008 had sights on upsetting the No. 13 Texas Tech Red Raiders in Reno.

Tech entered the game after a 49-24 week-one win over Eastern Washington that was far from being as dominate as many expected.  So a road trip to take on a Wolfpack team that was one of the top non-BCS teams in the country had the Red Raider faithful on edge.

And the Red Raiders did not do much to quell their fans’ fears by failing to convert on 4th-down on the game’s opening drive.  Nevada would hit a field goal on the ensuing possession to take an early lead and when Graham Harrell was picked off on Tech’s second drive, Texas Tech fans (who had to listen on the radio as the game was not televised) began to fear that an upset was brewing.

But Tech found its footing thanks to an 86-yard punt return TD from Eric Morris to take a 7-3 lead to end the first quarter.  After Nevada pulled to 7-6, A 50-yard pass from Harrell to Michael Crabtree set up a Shannon Woods one-yard TD run to put Tech up 14-6.

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The next drive for Nevada would end when Kaepernick would be picked off by defensive lineman Richard Jones on a tipped pass.  The teams then traded blocked kicks in a wild sequence of events that saw Tech block a punt and take over at the Nevada 24 only to have its ensuing field goal attempt blocked by the Wolf Pack.

A 43-yard FG from Nevada would send the game to halftime with Tech up 14-9.  The home team would continue to put pressure on the Red Raiders as a 3rd-quarter field goal brought the score to 14-12 with 6:40 to go in the quarter.

But on the ensuing kickoff, Nevada head coach Chris Ault took a gamble that backfired.  Tech recovered Nevada’s on-side kick and would turn that into a Morris 13-yard touchdown run to go up 21-12.

In the 4th quarter, Tech took a strangle-hold on the game with an 82-yard Michael Crabtree touchdown reception to push the lead to 28-12.  A 48-yard Kaepernick TD pass would bring the Pack back into the game but Tech had an answer.

Woods’ second TD run of the game, a 21-yard scamper, gave Tech its final margin of victory 35-19.  In another uneven and mistake-filled game to open a season of unprecedented expectations, the Red Raiders found a way to stay undefeated but did little to prove to a cynical fan base that they were a true Big 12 contender.

While Michael Crabtree had a fantastic performance with 158 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions, Harrell had one of his most pedestrian performances of his career going just 19-46 for 297 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.  But fortunately, the Red Raider defense was up to the task.

Tech gave up 488 total yards but stood tough in the red zone forcing Nevada to kick four field goals and not allowing any touchdowns on six Wolf Pack red zone possessions.   This would prove to be a hallmark of the 2008 defense that was a true bend but don’t break unit.

As for Kaepernick, he would finish the game with 264 yards passing, one touchdown and one interception while running for 92 yards on 17 carries.  The win would move Texas Tech up one place to No. 12 in the Coaches’ Poll, one spot behind Kansas of all teams.

Next. Remembering 2008: Texas Tech opens season with win over EWU. dark

While this game was far from a masterpiece, it was an indication that the 2008 Texas Tech football team was more than just the usual Mike Leach offensive juggernaut.  Against Nevada, the defense and special teams carried the day and though many Red Raider fans remained unimpressed with the 2008 team after two games, this win was a solid victory that showed the Red Raiders that games could be won even if its offensive stars were not at their best.

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