West Virginia 20, Texas Tech 13

Story from Russell Raunum

Alpha Media Intern

Opening Big 12 play this past Saturday, both teams knew it would be a hard fought, slugfest as conference play often is. But with a cold, rainy day and both
teams repping their back up QB’s for most of the game, it was as gritty as it could get.

After Tyler Shough sustained a fractured fibula in the 1st QTR, Behren Morton was given the chance to lead the Texas Tech Red Raiders as “his team.” Some
fans had already been hoping for this after a slow start for Shough. In a game where the passing game felt off, Morton struggled completing only 13 of his 37
passes for 158 yards and a touchdown. Texas Tech struggled with penalties (9 for 96 yards) and 3rd down conversions (2 for 18) leading to drives stalling and
no real momentum being created. On the other side, West Virginia was tasked with their own QB problems. Nicco Marchiol was given his first career start as QB Garrett Greene was ruled inactive after an ankle injury last week in the Backyard Brawl vs Pittsburgh.

With West Virginia having the lead for most of the game, Marchiol was placed into the “game manager” role. Marchiol dropped back 21 times, completing 12
of them for 78 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Both teams strived in the run game, running is characteristic for the Mountaineers, but despite recent success not so much for the Red Raiders. West Virginia carried the ball 42 times, where Texas Tech nearly matched that number at 38. Both teams rushed for nearly identical yards, as (160 TTU / 157 WVU) the rain that Morgantown brought favored the running game in this affair.

Tahj Brooks highlighted the rushing attacks from both sides having 25 carries for 149 yards. This is the 2nd game in a row that Brooks has eclipsed the 140+
yard mark. Although Texas Tech is a gunslinging west coast offense first, having a NFL-ready RB will help keep defenses guessing. Brooks has the
ability to take pressure off newly starting QB Morton in conference games this year.

After relying on the defense heavily, Texas Tech received the ball late in the 3rd QTR down ten and needed points badly to keep the game competitive. Texas
Tech did just that, going on a 13 play, 79 yard touchdown drive that was kept alive by an impressive catch on 4th and 9 by speedy WR Drae McCray. Texas Tech narrowed the deficit to three with 12 minutes to go in the 4th. How would West Virginia respond? With a 7 play, 79 yard touchdown drive of their own. Five times Texas Tech gave West Virginia a free first down via penalty. Four of those came on third down, and two of them occured on that touchdown drive. With seven minutes left WVU extended its lead back to double digits, 20-10.

After scoring their first touchdown of the game, Texas Tech continued to move the ball, scoring a quick 34 yard field goal by Gino Garcia to cut the lead back to one possession and turning to the defense that had been penalty plagued, but potent all game. Getting the ball back, West Virginia went three and out, but with questionable
play calling. The Mountaineers had the ball up seven with four minutes left, and elected to throw the ball three straight times. After two of those three passes fell
incomplete, Texas Tech was getting the ball back in a near best case scenario for the Red Raiders after only 53 seconds went off the clock. In a game where
WVU ran the ball 42 of 63 plays, head coach Neal Brown put the game in the hands of his inexperienced backup QB. Any fan could feel the momentum
shifting in the Red Raiders favor.

Texas Tech leaned on RB Tahj Brooks for the final drive, giving him the ball in the first nine of eleven possible plays getting down to the WVU 11 with two
timeouts, down a touchdown and 43 seconds left on the clock. Texas Tech proceeded to throw four straight times, all that fell incomplete, and Texas Tech
turned the ball over, losing the game. With enough time to run the ball, and call timeouts to make the would-be game tying touchdown more manageable, OC
Zach Kittley also put the game in the hands of his inexperienced QB, where the Red Raiders fell just short. Texas Tech falls to 1-3 on the year, with aspirations
to bounce back vs Houston. Texas Tech will look to the home crowd as they will enter eight athletic legends into the Hall of Fame at halftime.

NEXT GAMES:
West Virginia will travel to Fort Worth, taking on TCU on Saturday, September 30 at 7:00.
Texas Tech will host Houston at home on Saturday, September 30 at 2:30.