Texas Tech Outlasts Houston in Shootout at The Jones [VIDEO & PHOTOS]
After a tight first half, the Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-1, 0-0) put the pedal to the metal in the second half to beat the Houston Cougars (2-1, 0-0) 63-49 at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Freshman quarterback Alan Bowman started, and played, the whole game for Texas Tech. Bowman is a candidate for Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, as he went 43-for-59, passing for 605 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions. While Bowman is now 2-0 as the Red Raiders' starting quarterback, Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury maintained during his postgame comments that he has three quarterbacks on the roster capable of starting (Bowman, the injured McLane Carter, and Jett Duffey).
Antoine Wesley set a Texas Tech school record for receiving yards, catching 13 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns. The touchdown reception pictured above is a 6-yard connection from Bowman to Wesley with three minutes left in the second quarter.
The Red Raiders were up 35-28 at halftime after Bowman's 1-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Vasher with three seconds left in the second quarter.
Kingsbury later spoke about the importance of that scoring drive: "I think being able to take the lead at halftime flipped the momentum of the game." Kingsbury was also appreciative of the support his team received from the fans. "Our student section is the best in the country. 15,000 of their peers (came out to the game)," he said.
In the second half, the track meet continued, with Houston and Texas Tech both scoring touchdowns in the first five minutes of the third quarter.
The Red Raiders then began to pull away from the Cougars by forcing a U of H punt with 9:03 left in the third quarter. Five plays, and 80 yards later, Ta'Zhawn Henry took it 13 yards into the end zone for his second rushing touchdown of the game.
Henry was the Red Raiders' feature back on Saturday, with 24 carries for 111 yards and four touchdowns. He also caught seven passes for 42 yards.
Texas Tech's defense forced one turnover in the game, and held Houston to 8/19 on 3rd Down Conversions, and 2/5 on 4th Down Conversions.
Next Saturday (Sept. 22), Texas Tech begins Big XII Conference play at Oklahoma State. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be televised on FOX Sports 1.
1340 The Fan's Countdown to Kickoff show starts at 3 p.m. that day. Listen with the free 1340 The Fan app, online at our website or on the air at 1340 AM.
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Photos From Texas Tech-Houston (Courtesy: Paul Roberts Photography)
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