Saturday’s Bowl Capsules

Bowl Capsules

SAN ANTONIO — Ruffin McNeill and Texas Tech closed out a difficult week with a game Mike Leach would’ve loved.

Finally, the Red Raiders could unwind a little.

With everyone still talking about their fired coach, the Red Raiders blocked out the distractions and rallied to beat Michigan State 41-31 in a shootout at the Alamo Bowl on Saturday night after a week that left Texas Tech in turmoil.

The Red Raiders (9-4) fired Leach on Wednesday amid allegations he mistreated Adam James. The wide receiver, son of ESPN analyst Craig James, got a hostile reception all night from the crowd, who booed the sophomore so loud that it drowned out the marching band at halftime.

Michigan State (6-7) took a 28-27 lead into the fourth quarter, and appeared to get a break when Tech quarterback Taylor Potts left the game with an injury after throwing for an Alamo Bowl-record 372 yards and two touchdowns.

But this was still a Leach-built team. And in his offense, quarterbacks thrive.

Trailing 31-27, backup Steven Sheffield marched Texas Tech downfield in eight plays, the last an 11-yard touchdown pass to Detron Lewis to put the Red Raiders ahead. Baron Batch tacked on a 25-yard touchdown run to put it away.