Football
19y

Hodges throws for 454 yards, four scores

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -- Texas Tech quarterback Cody Hodges waited four years to show off his skills -- and his first start proved he's got them.

The fifth-year senior threw for 454 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another score to lead No. 21 Texas Tech past Florida International 56-3 on Saturday night.

"It was just like second nature all over again," Hodges said. "It was really a great way to start the season."

Hodges showed a running dimension Tech's two previous quarterbacks -- both of whom led the nation in passing -- did not. He looked at ease in rushing seven times for 44 yards, including a 17-yard scamper for a score in the second quarter to put Tech up
21-0.

"Obviously, I want to pass the ball first, but it felt great," Hodges said. "I was talking to a buddy last night, and I told him I wanted to rush for one, but I know it won't be like that from here on out."

He was no slouch in the air, either. Hodges, the third straight fifth-year senior to start for Tech (1-0) after B.J. Symons and Sonny Cumbie, found his rhythm early and connected on TD passes of 47, 39, 38 and 7 yards. He completed 29-of-37 passes.

Hodges' favorite receiver was Robert Johnson, a junior college transfer who came to Tech last year to be a quarterback. In his first start at receiver, Johnson caught nine passes for 129 yards and a touchdown. He caught a 47-yarder from Hodges that made it
28-3 late in the first half.

"I thought he did a really good job of standing in there," Tech coach Mike Leach said of Hodges. "I think there's always a case of jitters going in, with it being his first shot. That being the case, he hid it well."

The Golden Panthers (0-2) hurt themselves with back-to-back fumbles in the first half, both of which led to Tech scores. The second fumble came on the Tech 3-yard line after Florida International had driven from its own 35.

Tech safety Dwayne Slay stripped the ball from running back Julian Reams' hands and Chris Hudler recovered it for Tech. The Red Raiders needed just 2:55 to go 97 yards and capitalize on the turnover. Hodges threw passes of 11, 11, 8, 14 and 15 yards before he raced in from the 17 for the score.

On their ensuing possession, the Golden Panthers' 14-play drive stalled at the 13 and they had to settle for a field goal to trail 21-3 at halftime.

Florida International got inside Tech's 20 only three times in the first half and twice in the second. Florida International coach Don Strock was disappointed that his team got only three points with 26 first downs and 349 total yards.

"We just had too many mistakes, and you can't have those kinds of mistakes on the road," he said. "Overall, I thought we moved the ball well. We just didn't take advantage of our opportunities to score."

Defensive back Nick Turnbull said he'd warned teammates about how much Tech throws the ball.

"You never know what they are going to throw so it's hard to prepare," he said.

Tech running back Taurean Henderson, who scored a touchdown on a 20-yard run in the first and caught a 38-yarder from Hodges in the third, moved three catches closer to becoming the NCAA leader in receptions for a running back. He now needs 24 to break Mark Templeton's 262 receptions at Long Beach State.

The Florida school, in its fourth year of football and its first as a Division I-A member, played in front of its largest crowd ever when 50,156 showed up to watch Saturday night's game.

Hodges threw for more yards and touchdowns in his first outing than Symons did two years ago. Symons threw for 297 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in his first start. He went on to set a NCAA single-season record of 5,833 yards passing.

Cumbie, who led Tech last year, threw for 470 yards and four touchdowns in his first start.

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