The Texas Tech Red Raiders got a huge boost to start the game today when Keke Coutee took back the opening kickoff to the house to get off to a blazing-hot start.

The Red Raiders defense would give up a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in response, but the Texas Tech offense would have an answer.

(Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
(Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
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Nic Shimonek and Tre King would move down the field in just seven plays, culminating in a rushing touchdown for King and a 14-7 lead. The Texas Tech defense would turn up for the rest of the half. Baylor would then punt, fumble, get a turnover on downs on the 1-yard line, and then throw an interception.

The Texas Tech defense absolutely embraced the bend-but-don't-break mentality in the first half, giving up 237 yards of total offense, but only seven points.

The turnover on downs featured a goal line stand from the Texas Tech defense that showcased both Mychealon Thomas and Broderick Washington dominating the interior.

The Texas Tech offense would mix in an offensive touchdown on a 16-play, 89-yard drive that heavily featured Dylan Cantrell and Tre King. That drive would finish with an absolute dime from Nic Shimonek to TJ Vasher for a 5-ard touchdown.

In the 3rd quarter, Texas Tech and Baylor would mostly hold, trading fumbles before all the scoring broke loose, starting with the leg of Clayton Hatfield, who nailed a 39-yard field goal.

Ashley Wirz 1340thefan.com
Ashley Wirz 1340thefan.com
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Baylor would score with 1:08 left in the 3rd on a touchdown pass from Charlie Brewer to Pooh Stricklin that capped off a 10-play, 75-yard drive that took 3:34 off the clock. Then, they would kick a surprise onside kick that they recovered. However, that boon would be nullified by a bizarre ruling of kick catch interference; Jax Welsh would call a fair catch before Baylor caught the onside.

A heads-up play from Welsh led to a short field and a quick strike from Nic Shimonek to Cam Batson, who score on a 30-yard touchdown, taking all the momentum back from Baylor who were creeping back into the game.

The 4th quarter would start with a score of 31-14 with Texas Tech in front.

Baylor would have the ball to start the 4th and would not get anything on the board. Texas Tech would respond with a punt, and Baylor kicked a field goal, making the score 31-17.

Texas Tech would punt again before the Red Raiders defense would flex its muscle again with a strip and score badger grab from Douglas Coleman.

The Baylor Bears would respond with a touchdown, but it was just to pad stats on the way to a final score of 38-24, TTU.

Looking at the box score, Baylor had a monster game, running over 90 plays with over 500 yards of offense and more than a 13-minute difference in the time of possession battle.

The tale of the tape was in the turnover category for the Red Raiders, who forced four turnovers and had two fourth down stops, turning into six defensive stops for the Texas Tech Red Raider defense, who had a pretty dreadful pass defense between the 20s.

The two turnover on downs that Baylor had wasted over 10 minutes of clock for ended in zero points.

True freshman Charlie Brewer was 43-63 for 417 yards and three touchdowns, avoiding pressure all day long. On the Red Raiders' side, Nic Shimonek was 24-29 for 246 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Dylan Cantrell finished with 11 catches for 94 yards.


Watch more highlights from the 2017 Texas Tech football season below

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