The Time TTU vs WVU Had it All: Scores, Streaking, and Storming
In early October of 2012, the West Virginia Mountaineers were on top of the world. They were cementing themselves at the top of their new home in the Big 12. They were undefeated and ranked no. 5 in the nation after beating Maryland, Baylor, and Texas.
The Red Raiders were unranked and coming off a loss to Oklahoma, the only blemish on their record. Despite the loss to Oklahoma, the Red Raiders had high expectations in 2012. Coming off a terrible end to the 2011 season, including embarrassing losses to Oklahoma State, Kansas, and Missouri, the Red Raiders were in the midst of a bounce-back season.
Jace Amaro looked incredible early that season. Seth Doege, one of the most underrated Texas Tech quarterbacks of all time, was electric against sub-par, non-conference opponents early in 2012 and continued his hot streak here after stumbling with three interceptions against Oklahoma.
Without knowing all of the things to come after this game, including the eventual fall of the Red Raiders and the cratering of the Mountaineers season, this game provided a great amount of momentum for Texas Tech -- even if it only lasted for 14 days before starting the precipitous slide into the Kingsbury era.
The game itself was an absolute can of whoop ass, courtesy of Seth Doege and the Texas Tech offense. This was peak Nascar Neal Brown, as the offense racked up 508 passing yards and 168 rushing yards. Doege threw for six touchdowns and 499 of the yards.
Yes, that same Neal Brown is in West Virginia now.
On the defensive side of the ball, Cody Davis led the Red Raiders to one of the best defensive performances of the last decade, and by that, I mean by Texas Tech standards. The Red Raider defense held an electric WVU offense to just 14 points and 408 yards. It's all relative.
If you're watching the video above, most of the highlights are in the first half when the Red Raiders put up 35 of their 49 points. Doege had two of his six touchdown passes on the first two drives of the game -- a bullet to Eric Ward and a 39-yard strike to Jace Amaro. Sadale Foster looks like the fastest man on the planet on a 53-yard touchdown run late in the 2nd quarter.
Texas Tech put a bold period on the game with an eight-plus minute driving, ending in Seth Doege's sixth touchdown pass. Darrin Moore was on the receiving end, his 3rd of the game.
Though many look back on the Tommy Tuberville era negatively (with good reason), this game was a bright spot and worth the memory.
Now, the game was great, but one of the most memed moments in Texas Tech football history also happened during that game when Ace Smith stormed the field and ripped his pants off before trying to get aways from a gang of tacklers.
He did not get away, but I would have liked to have seen his chances if he wasn't in socks.