Matt Wells’ Red Raiders Recover From Nightmare Start
Texas Tech vs Houston could not have started worse for Texas Tech and his team. The Red Raiders were bullied all the way down the field to open the game. The Houston Cougars went for it on fourth down twice during a 16-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that ended with a Clayton Tune QB sneak.
Dana Holgorsen then went for the surprise onside kick which gave Houston the ball and all the momentum in the world. Another 4th down conversion on this drive got Houston down the field and into the endzone.
The Red Raiders would show some life and get all the way to the goal line after an Erik Ezukanma shallow catch turned into a long gain. The next play ended in a Xavier White fumble. The bad start got worse.
Texas Tech finally got some defense going on Houston's third drive forcing a 3 and out. After the punt, Texas Tech would score on a one-play 48-yard touchdown. The next Houston play was an interception by Wisconsin transfer Reggie Pearson. Texas Tech and Houston would trade punts the rest of the half until Houston finally broke through to end the half with a 13-play 75-yard drive where Texas Tech couldn't get pressure at all.
The Cougars led 21-7.
Matt Wells then gave one hell of a halftime speech. In the third quarter, Texas Tech scored 17 points and held the Cougars to zero points. The first touchdown came on a Tyler Shough read-option, then Rico Jeffers took a Clayton Tune ball back to the endzone.
A few drives later, an Eric Monroe would pick off another Tune pass. That led to a field goal and the first Texas Tech lead of the game. 24-21. The Red Raiders defense would absolutely dominate the second half as the fourth quarter followed the same script as the third. Texas Tech's Tyler Shough would find Xavier White to finish an 8-play 71-yard drive that made the score 31-21.
Texas Tech wasn't satisfied. Adrian Frye would pick off Clayton Tune for Red Raiders fourth interception of the game. A 44-yard Tahj Brooks touchdown would ice the game and give the Red Raiders a 38-21 victory, a second-half shut out, and an incredible opening victory from Matt Wells after a nightmare start.