The Little Apple has been a House of Horrors for the last 17 years for Texas Tech. Chris Klieman’s team had been surging in the last month. Certainly, the way this game started, the Red Raider fan base was seeing some old purple trauma flare up. However, Joey McGuire’s team proved that this was not going to be the same song, 18th verse. Thanks to the Texas Tech defense forcing five turnovers, the Red Raiders defeated the Wildcats 43-20.
Sloppy Start to the Game
Starting quarterback Behren Morton was making his first start after missing the last two weeks. There was a reasonable expectation that there might be a little rust to the offense. Timing issues showed up on the first drive. But more disheartening were the back-breaking false start (and rarely seen offensive encroachment) penalties that made finding any rhythm almost impossible for the first three drives. However, the most troubling start was what Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson did. He sprinted 46 yards down the field untouched for the game’s first touchdown. Before this game, the last time Texas Tech faced Johnson, he rushed for five touchdowns against the Red Raiders. The start of this game had all the makings of another upset.
Texas Tech Defense Stepped Up When Needed Most
However, the Texas Tech defense regrouped in the second quarter and began establishing control of the game. Kansas State finished the first half with only 105 yards of offense on 22 plays. Removing the touchdown run, this is an offense that had 59 yards on 21 plays. For the rest of the game, Shiel Wood’s defense was making consistent plays in the Wildcats’ backfield. They would finish the game with a total of 12 tackles for loss and countless pressures on Johnson.
Not only did the Wildcats struggle to move the ball, but this Texas Tech defense put on a turnover clinic. Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez had not one, but two forced fumbles by game’s end. He also had one pass defended and five tackles, one of which was a tackle for loss. Thanks to the constant pressure by the Red Raiders, it created plenty of turnover opportunities that they capitalized on. In total, this defense forced five turnovers. The last of them was a fumble by Johnson, which was scooped and scored by John Curry. Along with the handful of turnovers, the Wildcats were also zero-for-four on fourth down.
Morton Eventually Found the Touch
Much like the Texas Tech defense, the Red Raider offense found its groove as the game progressed. The second and third quarters saw this offense put up 29 points. Morton finished the game 21-fo-32 for 249 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. It was clear that offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich wanted to lean on the running attack in Morton’s first game back. The Red Raider offense finished with 44 rush attempts. J’Koby Williams led the way with 17 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown. Cameron Dickey also added 21 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown. The passing game also welcomed back tight end Terrance Carter Jr., with four receptions for 81 yards.
Texas Tech Defense Wrecks the Wildcats: What’s Next?
Anyone who watched this game would not evaluate this Texas Tech win as clean. The Red Raiders had two turnovers on offense. They only had four penalties for 21 yards. But they were all ill-timed by the offense that ended up killing all of those possessions. The passing offense still didn’t look like it had in the first half of the season. Morton had a few throws that reminded everyone what he’s capable of, but the playcalling appeared to indicate that the coaches wanted to ease him back into action.
But here is Texas Tech at 8-1. The 23-point margin of victory is their smallest of their eight wins. The most important news coming out of this game is that it appeared the Red Raiders avoided the injury bug. Now, undefeated BYU comes to Lubbock. College Gameday has officially announced they are coming to Lubbock for the first time since 2008. It is the biggest game Lubbock has seen since that 2008 Gameday appearance. The Red Raiders control their destiny to reach the Big 12 title game, but their biggest challenge of the season is coming to town on November 8th.
Main Image: Scott Sewell-Imagn Image
