West Virginia Overcomes 14-Point Deficit to Beat Texas Tech

The Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-4, 0-3) were unable to keep the West Virginia Mountaineers (4-2, 2-2) down for the count Saturday, as the Mountaineers overcame a 14-point fourth quarter deficit to win 37-34 on a last-second field goal.

Texas Tech's big strike play ability provided the Red Raiders first half points, with touchdowns coming from 34, 76 and 43 yards. Two of those big plays were Davis Webb touchdown passes to Devin Lauderdale (pictured), 34 yards and 76 yards respectively. At halftime, Tech had a 21-10 lead.

Going into the fourth quarter, the Red Raiders still had a seven point lead -- 27-20 -- after two red zone field goals in the third quarter. Then, halfway through the fourth quarter, Justin Stockton's 69-yard touchdown run at the 7:32 mark extended the lead to 34-20.

Down 14 points, West Virginia responded with a seven-play, 75-yard drive capped off with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Clint Trickett to Kevin White. Wendell Smallwood had runs of 17 and 25 on the drive to move the Mountaineers into the Tech half of the field.

Texas Tech got the ball back with 5:55 in the game after a touchback on the kickoff.  However, the Red Raiders weren't able to muster a first down, going three and out.

West Virginia took over at their own 22 with 4:39 left in the game. On the first play of the drive, Trickett connected with Mario Alford on a 21-yard pass, bringing the ball to the 43.

Another Trickett pass got the ball to midfield. Then, a pass interference penalty on Nigel Bethel moved the ball to the Texas Tech 35. Trickett then went to the air again, completing a pass to Daikiel Shorts to the 12 yard line and a personal foul penalty on Keenon Ward moved the ball to the 6.

With 1st and Goal at the 6, an Andrew Buie run moved the ball to the 3. On 2nd and Goal, Rushel Shell rushed through the right side to the 1 yard line. Another Shell run on third down was stuffed at the 1 by Micah Awe.

After a replay review and a West Virginia timeout, the Mountaineers lined up to go for it on 4th and Goal at the 1 yard line. The Mountaineers called Shell's number again and he delivered, plunging into the end zone on 4th and Goal.  With the extra point, West Virginia tied the game at 34 with 2:02 left in the game.

On the ensuing kickoff, Jakeem Grant returned the ball to the Texas Tech 30 yard line. The first two plays of the drive were Davis Webb incomplete passes and then Webb found Grant on 3rd and 10 for a 17 yard gain to the 47 yard line.

Two plays later, Webb connected with D.J. Polite-Bray for an eight yard pickup to the West Virginia 46 yard line. On 3rd and 3 from the 46, Webb's pass to Bray on the near sideline went incomplete forcing a punt on 4th Down.

West Virginia started the final drive of the game on their own 20 with 0:52 seconds left. Two consecutive Smallwood runs of 9 and 3 yards moved the chains on a 3rd and 1. Then on 1st and 10 from the 32, Trickett hooked up with Jordan Thompson on an 11 yard pass. On the next play, Trickett found Thompson again for another 11 yard gain to the Texas Tech 46 yard line.

At this point there was 0:14 seconds left in the game, and the Mountaineers went to the ground.

Smallwood found a hole through the line and gained 8 to the Texas Tech 38. West Virginia then used their final timeout with 0:07 left. After a Trickett incomplete pass, Dana Holgorsen sent out his field goal unit with 0:03 on the clock.  Kliff Kingsbury called a timeout to try to ice kicker Josh Lambert. However, the delay didn't matter as Lambert converted a 55-yard field goal with time expiring to win the game.

A deflated Texas Tech sideline walked off to the locker room as the Mountaineers cheered at midfield following the game-winning kick. Texas Tech's losing streak is now at four games as their record drops to (2-4, 0-3).

Texas Tech next Saturday hosts Kansas with a 2:30 kickoff at Jones AT&T Stadium.  Countdown to Kickoff on SportsRadio 1340 The Fan starts at 11:30 a.m. with Steve Dale and Weston Odom.

Game Notes:

• Attendance was 58,502
• Texas Tech wore white helmets, white jerseys and white pants at home for the first time since the Jim Carlen era.
• Texas Tech WR Bradley Marquez has at least one reception in 35 of his 37 career games
• Texas Tech RB DeAndre Washington set career highs for carries and yards: 29 rushes for 138 yards