The Texas Tech Red Raiders nabbed its first win Saturday evening against the Tarleton State Texans 41-3, powered by a career night from senior running back Tahj Brooks, who rushed for 158 yards on 19 carries.
Tech head coach Joey McGuire spoke on the Red Raiders’ first victory on the season and the defense stepping up.
“I was really proud of our team,” McGuire said. “We had three turnovers, created three turnovers, had a chance to have a few more. CJ almost picked one right towards end and then we had three sacks, I thought our pressure was better on the quarterback.”
Following the Red Raiders’ 3 and out opening drive, Tarleton State quarterback Victor Gabalis threw a pick-six to Tech senior defensive back Malik Dunlap for the game’s first score.
The Red Raiders continued their scoring ways on their next possession, as Tyler Shough took it into the endzone for a two-yard rushing touchdown to put Tech up 14-0 with 8:19 left in the first quarter of action.
Shough and the Red Raider offense drove the field in less than two minutes that resulted in a 28-yard touchdown reception from junior tight end Mason Tharp to tack on six more points to the Tech lead. After converting a 4th and 1 opportunity in Red Raider territory, Gabalis threw another interception to Dunlap, which propelled Tech with possession of the ball at the end of the first quarter.
Despite a 22-yard run from Tahj Brooks that put the Red Raider offense in scoring position, they couldn’t punch it into the endzone, settling for a 28-yard field goal to increase their lead 24-0. Nothing comes of avail for either team to close the half. However, Brooks reached a huge milestone, rushing for a career-high 140 yards by the end of the first half.
Brooks spoke on his career night and being able to have the opportunity to produce for the offense.
“Just the opportunity for coach Kittley to put the ball in my hands and I don’t want to let him down,” Brooks said.
With neither team being able to produce much offense to being the second half, Tarleton State, pinned inside their own 10 yard-line, threw another yet another interception. The Texans’ third turnover of the game also resulted in Behren Morton taking the field at quarterback, ending Shough’s night.
McGuire said that he had always planned on using both Shough and Morton in the contest.
“That was my plan from last week, that was going to happen no matter what,” McGuire said “The only way that Tyler was going to stay in that game as if it was 24-21 or something like that. It had nothing to do with Tyler or Behren, who was playing better or anything like that.”
Tech was unable to put anything together following the interception, resulting in a 43-yard field goal from Gino Garcia to extend the lead to 27-0. Morton got things going towards the latter half of the third quarter, lobbing it up to Myles Price for a 15-yard touchdown, giving the sophomore quarterback his first touchdown of the season.
The Red Raiders weren’t done with their offensive explosiveness just yet. Thanks to a defensive pass interference call that put Tech into scoring position, Morton threw his second touchdown of the evening to Jordan Brown, his first receiving touchdown of the season.
Tech’s shutout ended at the 5:04 mark of the final quarter, as Tarleton State kicker Adrian Guzman nails a 21-yard field goal to get the Texans onto the scoreboard, 41-3.
Despite a Morton interception late in the fourth quarter, the Red Raiders didn’t allow any more points, resulting in a 41-3 victory, moving to 1-2 on the season.
Onto Big 12 play
Now that Texas Tech is 1-2, they still have an opportunity at the Big 12 Championship.
McGuire said that the defense still has a lot to work on, particularly the pass rush going into next week.
“Love the (pass) rushing, that we will continue to work on, specially with the quarterback we’re facing next week is so mobile,” McGuire said.
The Red Raiders will take on West Virginia on the road next Saturday Sept. 23 to begin conference play.
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