LUBBOCK, TX — There were many questions surrounding the Texas Tech Football program after a huge offseason in the transfer portal. Those questions seemed to have been answered in the Red Raiders" opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Texas Tech dominated early and often to claim a dominant victory.
On offense, transfers Terrence Carter Jr. and Reggie Virgil combined for three touchdowns in the first half. Defensively, Lee Hunter, David Bailey, and Romello Height have transformed the Red Raiders' pass rush into something to be feared.
1st Quarter
Texas Tech jumped on the board early when Behren Morton connected with Virgil on a 9-yard touchdown pass to give the Red Raiders an early lead. A blocked punt allowed Texas Tech another quick score just minutes later. This time, Morton hit Carter on a 21-yard pass to put Texas Tech up 14-0 with over 10 minutes to play in the 1st quarter. Following a field goal, Texas Tech would score another touchdown to end the 1st quarter. Morton hooked up with Carter for the second time in the endzone on a 9-yard touchdown pass. Tech led after one, 23-0.
2nd Quarter
The scoring barrage continued for Texas Tech in the 2nd quarter. Morton hit a beautiful pass to Coy Eakin for a 41-yard score to put the Red Raiders up 30-0. Another stop by the rampaging Texas Tech defense set up an 8-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 5-yard touchdown run by Texas Tech's J'Koby Williams. Following the touchdown, Morton had an injury scare during a sack. It looks like the young man will be just fine, but Will Hammond came in to finish th egame. He led two impressive drives to end the first half that resulted in another field goal and a 2-yard touchdown run by Cameron Dickey. Texas Tech led at the half, 47-0.
3rd Quarter
Texas Tech picked up right where they left off in the first half after almost an hour and a half of weather delay. Both head coaches agreed to decrease the quarter length in the final two quarters to eight minutes apiece.
Hammond returned under center on offense and immediately went to work. He broke through the line on a quarterback scramble to score a 64-yard touchdown. Shortly after, he led Tech on a march that ended with former Frenship Tigers' Leyton Stone's first career touchdown. The 7-yard touchdown pass extended Tech's lead to 61-0.
4th Quarter
Arkansas-Pine Bluff finally clawed its way onto the board in the 4th quarter. A long drive ended with a solid catch in the endzone to make the score 61-7. The Red Raiders ended their night with one final touchdown. Backup quarterback Mitch Griffis capped off a 7-play, 85-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Freshman Bryson Jones.
Texas Tech claimed victory, 67-7.
1st Half Stats
Passing
- B. Morton - 16/18 - 201 yards - 4 TDs
- W. Hammond - 7/9 - 92 yards - 1 TD
- M. Griffis - 2/3 - 21 yards - 1 TD
Rushing
- C. Dickey - 12 carries - 90 yards - 1 TD
- A. Hill - 8 carries - 78 yards
- W. Hammond - 1 carry - 64 yards - 1 TD
- J. Williams - 6 carries - 56 yards - 1 TD
- M. Griffis - 1 carry - 8 yards
Receiving
- R. Virgil - 4 catches - 56 yards - 1 TD
- C. Douglas - 4 catches - 43 yards
- C. Eakin - 3 catches - 47 yards - 1 TD
- T. Carter - 3 catches - 42 yards - 2 TDs
- J. Miller II - 2 catches - 24 yards
- M. Hudson - 2 catch - 20 yards
- K. Valsin - 1 catch - 18 yards
- B. Jones - 1 catch - 13 yards - 1 TD
- T. West - 1 catch - 9 yards
- T. Turner - 1 catch - 8 yards
- M. Horn - 1 catch - 6 yards
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