PHOTOS: Texas Tech Beats Houston 49-28

Cam’Ron Valdez and Tahj Brooks both rushed for 106 yards and a couple of scores while the Texas Tech special teams scored twice in the first half to lead the Texas Tech Red Raiders to a 49-28 victory over the Houston Cougars on Saturday afternoon in Lubbock. The win improves Texas Tech to 2-3 on the season and 1-1 in Big 12 play while Houston falls to 2-3 and 0-2 in the Big 12.

The scoring was plentiful in the first half for both teams as they combined for 63 total points. Houston Quarterback and former Texas Tech player Donovan Smith led the Cougars on a 12 play, 75 yard drive ending in a 6-yard touchdown pass to Bryan Henry. Smith arguably played the best half of football in his career and his best game of the season completing 29 of 40 pass attempts for 335 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Red Raider Quarterback Behren Morton made his first start and was rather efficient going 14-22 for 161 yards and 2 touchdowns with no turnovers. The Red Raider offense committed to running the football and it paid off in dividends as the Red Raiders had two 100-yard rushers for the first time in a game since 1999. The Red Raiders ran for 239 yards on the day in their best offensive performance of the season.

The Texas Tech Defense were torched in the first half by the Cougars giving up 28 points and over 300 yards of total offense. The second half was a different story as the Red Raider Defense shutout the Cougars and held to only 104 yards. The Red Raider special teams lived up to their name with a kickoff return for a touchdown and a blocked punt returned for a touchdown in the first half.

The Red Raiders return to action next Saturday on the road against the Baylor Bears with kickoff at 7pm on ESPN2.

RECAP BY ALLEN CORBIN

Here are some great photos from the game from KKAM photographer Paul Roberts...