LUBBOCK, TX — An oppressive ground game and suffocated defense gave the No. 9 Texas Tech Red Raiders a dominant victory over the Kansas Jayhawks at Jones AT&T Stadium on Saturday night. Tech hosted Kansas for homecoming and celebrated 100 years of Texas Tech Football in outstanding fashion as the Red Raiders ran away with it in the 2nd half, 42-17.
It didn't take long for Texas Tech to strike early in the 1st quarter. After the defense forced a punt, running back Cam Dickey took the first play of the series 71 yards for a touchdown. Tech led early, 7-0.
Texas Tech's defense came up with a big play on the ensuing possession. John Curry forced a fumble and David Bailey recovered to set the Red Raiders up deep in Kansas territory. Five plays later, Behren Morton connected with Terrance Carter Jr. for a 21-yard touchdown.
The Red Raiders would go on to kick two field goals to build a 21-0 lead in the 2nd quarter. However, Morton went down right before the second field goal. Texas Tech's offense looked flat after that. Penalties and an interception by backup quarterback Will Hammond allowed Kansas to not only claw their way back into the ballgame, but to score 17 unanswered points to end the half.
Tech's defense delivered all throughout the second half, and Will Hammond and Cam Dickey took over in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Not only did Kansas fail to effectively move the ball in the final two quarters, but Texas Tech dominated the line of scrimmage on offense to put the game away.
Will Hammond scored a touchdown midway through the 3rd quarter to give the Red Raiders some breathing room before Cam Dickey lit up the crowd with another 55-yard touchdown to put the game away. Hammond delivered the dagger with 3:31 to play in the 4th quarter on a 10-yard touchdown run to complete a dominant night rushing the football.
Texas Tech ran for 372 yards on homecoming night. Cam Dickey led all rushers with 21 carries for 263 yards and touchdowns. Will Hammond added eight carries for 61 yards and two touchdowns, while J'Koby Williams rounded out the Texas Tech rushing attack with 48 yards on nine carries.
Defensively, the Red Raiders' front dominated another Big 12 opponent. The defensive line finished the game with nine sacks, a mind-boggling number. David Bailey dominated the Kansas offensive line with 3.5 sacks alone. The Red Raiders forced a turnover in the first quarter and shut out Kansas in the final two quarters.
Next up, the Red Raiders travel to Tempe to play the No. 21 Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Kickoff in that matchup is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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