Story by
Cameron Dickey Sparks Texas Tech After Ugly First-Half Scare
- Story by
- Cameron Dickey Sparks Texas Tech After Ugly First-Half Scare
(Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images)
Texas Tech is 4-0, still unbeaten and still rolling into October ... but Saturday's 49-14 win over Sam Houston wasn't nearly as clean as the final score suggests.
The Red Raiders, ranked No. 10 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, jumped ahead 21-0 before the offense suddenly unraveled. Quarterback Will Hammond threw three interceptions in the final 5½ minutes of the first half, allowing Sam Houston to climb back within 21-14 before halftime.
Advertisement
MORE: Texas Tech Stuns No. 13 Colorado With Three-Goal Second-Half Rally
That's when Cameron Dickey helped settle everything down.
Dickey opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run and struck again early in the third quarter, breaking loose for a 13-yard score that pushed Texas Tech's advantage back to 28-14.
He finished with a season-high 91 rushing yards and two touchdowns, giving Texas Tech exactly the kind of dependable ground-game production it needed while Hammond recovered from his rough stretch.
"I'm excited about being 4-0," head coach Joey McGuire said afterward. "But it happened again. We've got way too many self-inflicted wounds in the first half."
Advertisement
That may be the biggest takeaway.
Texas Tech eventually dominated, piling up 470 total yards, including 219 rushing yards, while holding Sam Houston to 269 yards.
The Red Raiders scored 28 unanswered points after halftime and extended their home winning streak to 11 games, their longest since the 2007-09 stretch.
Hammond rebounded as well. He finished 17-of-29 for 224 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions, then added a 23-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The defense also made its presence felt. Linebacker Austin Romaine returned two interceptions for touchdowns on consecutive throws, becoming the first Texas Tech player ever to record two pick-sixes in the same game.
Advertisement
So yes, Texas Tech won by 35.
MORE: Texas Tech Tumbles to No. 12 in AP Polll; Who's To Blame For Drop?
But McGuire won't be satisfied with simply looking at the scoreboard.
The Red Raiders are unbeaten, explosive and talented enough to make noise in the Big 12. If they clean up the turnovers, they'll become even more dangerous. If they don't, tougher opponents won't be nearly as forgiving.
