Texas Tech Rolls Behind Kingsbury

A monthlong layoff and an ankle injury did little to slow Kliff Kingsbury.

Kingsbury became the third Division I-A player to top 5,000 yards passing in a season, throwing for 375 and three touchdowns as Texas Tech defeated Clemson, 55-15, in the Tangerine Bowl on Monday night.

“Five thousand yards, that’s a big number,” Kingsbury said. “That shows how well our offense played this season.”

Texas Tech (9-5) won its first bowl game since beating Air Force in the 1995 Copper Bowl and gave Coach Mike Leach his first postseason victory.

Five receivers caught touchdown passes for the Red Raiders, and Wes Welker had a 59-yard punt return for a score.

It was the worst loss of the season for Clemson (7-6), and the worst in a bowl since a 41-0 defeat to Syracuse in the 1996 Gator Bowl.

“I’m totally embarrassed,” defensive tackle Nick Eason said. “This was my last game as a Clemson Tiger, and I got destroyed. I might have more games, in the NFL, maybe some All-Star games, but this is one I’ll always remember.”

Kingsbury completed 32 of 43 passes and finished the season with 5,017 yards. The only other players to reach the mark are Brigham Young’s Ty Detmer, who had 5,188 yards, and Houston’s David Klingler, who had 5,140. Both players did it in 1990. Detmer played in 12 games, Klingler 11.

Clemson freshman quarterback Charlie Whitehurst couldn’t match Kingsbury. He was 20 for 48 for 263 yards with four interceptions.

“I honestly felt sorry for Whitehurst,” Texas Tech defensive end Aaron Hunt said. “We hit him shot after shot after shot.”