Team Tahj tops Team Behren in overtime of Tech Spring Game

LUBBOCK, Texas – Reese Burkhardt connected on a 43-yard field goal in overtime to send Team Tahj to a 27-24 victory Saturday afternoon in the Texas Tech Spring Game hosted inside the Sports Performance Center.

The Red Raiders kept their original Team Tahj versus Team Behren format, making the most out of their final practice of the spring after Texas Tech was forced to cancel its trip to Midland due to inclement weather. The two teams were divided equally earlier in the week with Behren Morton and Tahj Brooks as the captains with coordinators Zach Kittley (Behren) and Tim DeRuyter (Tahj) serving as the head coaches.

Team Tahj jumped out to an early 14-0 lead thanks to a pair of big plays in the passing game from newcomers Johncarlos Miller II and Caleb Douglas on its opening two drives. Miller outjumped a defender to haul in a 23-yard touchdown from Will Hammond for the first touchdown of the game, while Douglas outran the defense for a 34-yard strike from Cameran Brown on the next possession.

Douglas, a junior transfer from Florida, led both teams with four receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown as all four of his catches went for at least 10 yards, including three for 20 or more yards. He previously set up the Miller touchdown on the opening drive with a 22-yard catch from Hammond a play prior to the score.

Defensively, Team Tahj forced an unsuccessful 49-yard field goal on its opening possession followed by a key fourth-down stop on the following drive after C.J. Baskerville dropped Trey Jackson for a one-yard loss on a pass in the flat. On the other side, Chief Collins had the lone interception of the day as he stepped in front of a Hammond pass late in the second quarter.

Team Behren cut the lead in half to close the first quarter as Coy Eakin got loose on a 45-yard touchdown pass from Hammond, who was 8-of-14 for 127 yards, two touchdowns and an interception to wrap his first spring as a Red Raider. Hammond compiled the bulk of his yardage early after completing his first five passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns alone.

The three quarterbacks rotated between the two teams as Brown was 12-of-19 overall for 103 yards and two touchdowns. He also connected with Jordan Brown on a 12-yard touchdown late in the second quarter to cut Team Behren’s deficit to 21-14 before halftime.

Jake Strong, meanwhile, was 7-of-13 for 88 yards and a touchdown. Following the Eakin touchdown, Strong led Team Tahj to a quick five-play scoring drive, finding Douglas for 42 yards, Josh Kelly for five yards and then Jason Llewellyn for a three-yard touchdown to pull the game to 21-14 just before halftime.

Team Behren was able to take its lone lead of the game via a 27-yard field goal from Gino Garcia with 4:20 remaining in the fourth quarter. Hammond pushed Team Tahj into field goal range on the ensuing drive, setting up Burkhardt for a 52-yard field goal to tie it with 28 seconds remaining.

Burkhardt was called on to win it not long after as Team Behren had a bad snap on its first drive of overtime to negate a Garcia field goal attempt. As is tradition with head coach Joey McGuire, Team Tahj will be treated to a steak meal Tuesday night to close out spring ball in what the Red Raiders refer to as “Champions Dinner.”

The Spring Game closed the third set of spring practices under McGuire, who has led the Red Raiders to a bowl win and a winning conference record in each of his first two seasons. Texas Tech opens preseason camp for the 2024 campaign in late July before kicking off Aug. 31 with the season opener against Abilene Christian inside Jones AT&T Stadium.

UNOFFICIAL GAME STATS

Passing (Quarterbacks played on both teams) – Cameran Brown: 12-19, 103 yards, 2 TDs; Jake Strong: 7-13, 88 yards, 1 TD; Will Hammond: 8-14, 127 yards, 2 TDs, INT

Rushing

Team Tahj – Cameron Dickey: 13 att., 23 yards; Jaden Morris: 5 att., 8 yards

Team Behren – Cam’Ron Valdez: 11 att., 32 yards; Anquan Willis: 8 att., 70 yards, TD;

Quarterback Rushing – Cameron Brown: 2 att., 4 yards; Will Hammond: 1 att., 3 yards

Receiving

Team Tahj – Caleb Douglas: 4 rec., 109 yards, TD; Jason Llewellyn: 3 rec., 9 yards; Josh Kelly 2 rec., 15 yards; Johncarlos Miller II: 1 rec., 23 yards, TD; Brady Boyd: 1 rec., 8 yards; Cameran Dickey: 1 rec., 5 yards; Aiden Meeks, 1 rec., 3 yards; Price Morgan: 1 rec., 6 yards.

Team Behren – Trey Jackson: 3 rec., 13 yards; Jordan Brown: 2 rec., 22 yards, TD; Drae McCray: 2 rec., 18 yards; Kelby Valsin: 2 rec., 12 yards; Tyson Turner: 1 rec., 24 yards; Mason Tharp: 1 rec., 10 yards; Coy Eakin: 1 rec., 45 yards, TD; Anquan Willis: 1 rec., -1 yards.

Scoring Summary

QTR Time Scoring Play Score

1st 6:48 Tahj – J. Miller II 23 yd pass from W. Hammond 7-0

1st 2:49 Tahj – C. Douglass 34 yd pass from C. Brown 14-0

1st 0:00 Behren – C. Eakin 45 yd pass from W. Hammond 14-7

2nd 10:49 Tahj – J. Llewellyn 3 yd pass from J. Strong 21-7

2nd 3:49 Behren – J. Brown 12 yd pass from C. Brown 21-14

3rd 1:45 Behren – A. Willis 42 yd rush 21-21

4th 4:20 Behren – G. Garcia 27 yd FG 21-24

4th 0:28 Tahj – R. Burkhardt 52 yd FG 24-24

OT — Tahj – R. Burkhardt 43 yd FG 27-24

–TECH–

Release Provided By Matt Dowdy Texas Tech Athletics