No. 6 Texas Tech Blows Out UCF at Home

LUBBOCK, TX — The No. 6 Texas Tech Red Raiders (10-1) hosted UCF (4-6) for a Big 12 matchup on Saturday, November 15. Texas Tech needed another dominant win to keep pace with the other leaders in the country as we approach the end of the regular season. It became a rout early as the Red Raiders' offense and defense proved too much for UCF. Texas Tech dominated the Golden Knights, 48-9.

1st Quarter

Texas Tech received the opening kickoff and immediately went to work. Quarterback Behren Morton hit Reggie Virgil two plays in a row, one for 17 and another for 40 yards, to push Texas Tech just outside the Golden Knights' 10-yard line. Cam Dickey would score a play later to give Texas Tech a 7-0 lead with just over a minute off the clock.

Tech's defense forced a quick three-and-out before the offense would score again. This time, J'Koby Williams hit a 23-yard run to set Texas Tech up in scoring position. Then, Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez came into the game undercenter to run a version of the wildcat. Rodriguez took it himself for the final two yards into the end zone for a touchdown. Texas Tech led 14-0 with 9:29 left in the 1st quarter.

2nd Quarter

The Red Raiders jumped back on the board with the first play in the first quarter. Texas Tech led a methodical drive down the field following a UCF punt. Texas Tech went 51 yards in 13 plays on a healthy dose of both run and pass, capped off by a 5-yard jet sweep for a touchdown by Reggie Virgil. Tech led 21-0 with 14:55 remaining in the 2nd Quarter.

Texas Tech made its first mental mistake of the afternoon to get UCF on the board. After the defense forced another punt, the Red Raiders were backed way up in their own territory at the 2-yard line. On 3rd down, Morton dropped back to pass but had to scramble away from pressure. An offensive lineman committed a hold in the end zone; by rule, the hold resulted in a safety. UCF scored two points and trailed 21-2 with 10:11 left in the half.

Texas Tech's defense stepped up following the safety. After UCF drove to midfield, the Golden Knights faced a 4th down and short. David Bailey came off the edge and sacked the quarterback to give Texas Tech back the football. The Red Raiders took over at UCF's 44-yard line. It did not take long for the Red Raiders' offense to score after that. Caleb Douglas and J'Koby Williams pushed the ball to the 30-yard line before Reggie Virgil took another jet-sweep to the house. This time, for 30 yards. Texas Tech led 28-2 with 4:42 left in the 2nd Quarter.

Following the touchdown, Jacob Rodriguez proved once again why he should be a Heisman Trophy candidate. Texas Tech's star linebacker stepped in front of an errant pass and picked it off. The Red Raiders took over deep in UCF territory. Three plays later, Morton hit Virgil for the receiver's third touchdown of the day. The 8-yard touchdown pass made the score 35-2 with 2:58 remaining in the 2nd quarter.

Another punt forced by the Texas Tech defense gave the offense one final opportunity to score with 1:13 left in the half. Behren Morton sat down for the afternoon, and backup quarterback Mitch Griffis stepped onto the field. He led the 2-minute offense to perfection, completing all six of his passes as the Red Raiders looked to have scored another touchdown.

Inexplicably, the offensive line decided they didn't want to play on this drive as the Red Raiders neared the end zone. A taunting penalty, and then another hold pushed the Red Raiders all the way back to the 27-yard line. Stone Harrington nailed the 45-yard attempt, but what a mess to end the half.

Texas Tech led at the break 38-2.

3rd Quarter

UCF opened up the second half with the Golden Knights' best drive of the ball game. UCF drove the ball 75 yards on eight plays to score an 8-yard passing touchdown. Tayven Jackson hit Dylan Wade in the back of the end zone for the score. Texas Tech led 38-9 with 10:57 left in the 3rd quarter.

Texas Tech added a field goal to its tally following the Golden Knight touchdown. Cam Dickey set up Harrington's 53-yard field goal with a 26-yard run into UCF territory. The kick left the score at 41-9 with just over eight minutes to play in the 3rd Quarter.

Ben Roberts made a huge play for the Red Raiders' defense following the field goal. Faced with a 4th down near midfield, the Golden Knights decided to go for it. UCF threw a screen pass over the middle, but Roberts was ready and waiting. He knocked down the ball carrier well short of the line, and the Red Raiders took over at the UCF 44-yard line with 5:55 remaining in the 3rd Quarter.

It was the Cam Dickey show as the Red Raiders rounded out the 3rd Quarter with another touchdown. He carried the ball several times and caught a pass before he finally broke into the end zone on a 2-yard touchdown run. Texas Tech officially put this one to bed at the end of the 3rd, 48-9.

4th Quarter

Texas Tech's backups fully came in during the fourth quarter as the Red Raiders shifted to a clock-grinding mode. UCF did its best to score, but the Red Raiders forced a turnover with 10:07 left in the 4th quarter. Texas Tech gained enough first downs to run out the clock and claimed victory, 48-9.