Texas Tech flipped the script on Baylor. One year after the Bears owned the Red Raiders in Lubbock, Baylor’s gold out lost its shine early. It started with a physically dominating Texas Tech defense that never let the Bears breathe. Combining that with a well-executed offensive game plan, the result was a one-sided affair. Texas Tech sent Baylor fans to the parking lot early with a 39-14 victory.
Texas Tech Defense Suffocated The Bears All Night
Red Raider defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter will not have much coaching to do after this one. The Texas Tech defense was led by the efforts of Steve Linton and “The Rabbit” Dadrion Taylor-Demerson. In the first half alone, the Texas Tech defense had six tackles for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles, two quarterback hurries, and one pass breakup. Linton, who came into the game with zero sacks on the season, finished with three sacks. Demerson had six tackles, one pass breakup, and two quarterback hurries.
Baylor never was able to get any sort of run game going. Because Texas Tech controlled the line of scrimmage all night, the Bears finished with only 17 yards rushing. The final offensive numbers for Baylor look like the Bears’ offense moved the ball better than they actually did for most of the game. For example, a fourth-down conversation attempt by Baylor from their own 19-yard line resulted in a 71-yard touchdown pass after Demerson took a bad route on the ball and missed. The only success they found was through the air with a total of 341 yards. But it came at a price as Texas Tech finished the game with 10 tackles for loss, four sacks, four forced fumbles, and three quarterback hurries. Baylor also was only one-for-six on fourth-down conversion attempts.
Still Tahj Time
For the first time in over two decades, a Texas Tech running back eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark for four consecutive games. Tahj Brooks looked powerful all night. He finished the night with 31 carries for 170 yards and one touchdown. Coming into the game, the Red Raiders had to avoid a turnover performance like their 2022 performance. Brooks’ domination against the Bears wasn’t a perfect game though as he did have one fumble. But Texas Tech did not throw a single interception and won the turnover battle two-to-one. Red Raider offensive coordinator Zach Kittley had his finger on the pulse of this game from start to finish.
The Texas Tech offense was always gaining positive yards to start drives. Quarterback Behren Morton was not asked to do too much, leaning on the running game. Morton has two early touchdown passes with great touch and precision to help spring Texas Tech to an early 14-0 lead. He finished the game 19-for-26 for 180 yards and four total touchdowns (one rushing). Morton’s last touchdown was the exclamation point on a total team effort in a dominating effort over Baylor.
First Consecutive Victories Of The Season
Thanks largely to the Texas Tech defense, the Red Raiders have won consecutive games for the first time all season. If Joey McGuire’s team was going to make any late pushback to the top of the Big 12 standings, Texas Tech had to win this one. With some momentum building, and what appears to be a true identity on offense, Kansas State comes to Lubbock next week. The Wildcats look very vulnerable after their Friday night loss to Oklahoma State. It is very likely that the only ranked team remaining on Texas Tech’s schedule will be the Longhorns to close out the regular season. Just as McGuire told his team before the game “Be the team you are supposed to be.” Let’s see if the Red Raiders can continue to be that team.
