Story by
Texas Tech Overcomes 4 Turnovers to Beat Sam Houston 49-14
- Story by
- Texas Tech Overcomes 4 Turnovers to Beat Sam Houston 49-14
LUBBOCK-- Quarterback Will Hammond threw three first-half interceptions, but No. 11 Texas Tech managed to hold a lead as linebacker Austin Romaine had back-to-back interceptions returned for touchdowns.
The Red Raiders overcame the offensive struggles to roll in the second half and take down Sam Houston 49-14 at Galaxy Stadium Saturday afternoon.
Advertisement
The win was Tech's 11th straight at home and extended an FBS-leading streak of 55 non-conference home games scoring 28 points or more.
PREVIEW: Red Raiders Hope to Remain Perfect vs. Bearkats
Hammond finished completing 17 of 29 passes for 224 yards. He added a touchdown through the air and on the ground in the second half.
Relive the action with live updates from Lubbock below:
Live Updates - No. 11 Texas Tech (4-0) vs. Sam Houston (1-3)
2:27 p.m. - FINAL - Texas Tech 49, Sam Houston 14
2:14 p.m. - Thomas Castellanos returned for a handful of snaps. Running back Quinten Joyner rushed in for a short touchdown, but it was nullified for joint holding and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Facing third-and-goal from the 27-yard line, Castellanos lofted a touchdown pass to Malcolm Simmons. Red Raiders take a 49-14 lead.
Advertisement
1:55 p.m. - Hammond takes off for a 23-yard rushing touchdown, capping a seven-play, 80-yard drive. Red Raiders lead 42-14 with 10:41 to go in the ballgame.
1:42 p.m. - More turnovers. Texas Tech fumbles for a third time in punt coverage. This time, it's recovered by the Bearkats. For the third time out of four chances, the Tech defense responded from the giveaway to force a three-and-out.
End of Third Quarter - Texas Tech 35, Sam Houston 14
1:24 p.m. - Landyn Locke's pass is intercepted by Texas Tech safety Peyton Morgan. That's six total picks in the game.
1:13 p.m. - Hammond finds his first touchdown pass of the day as Coy Eakin gets open behind the secondary for a 21-yard score.Texas Tech leads 35-14 and has now scored 28 points or more in 55 straight non-conference home games, which leads all FBS.
Advertisement
1:04 p.m. - J'Koby Williams took the second-half kickoff 53 yards to set up a 13-yard rushing touchdown by Dickey, his second score of the game. Texas Tech quickly grew its lead to 28-14.Red Raiders defense follows by forcing a three-and-out.
HALFTIME - Texas Tech 21, Sam Houston 14
12:31 p.m. - On the first play of Tech's ensuing drive, Hammond is intercepted for the third time of the first half.
12:30 p.m. - Touchdown Bearkats. Locke's pass over the middle is caught by Chris Reed for back-to-back scores by Sam Houston. Texas Tech is in front 21-14with under two minutes remaining in the half.
Advertisement
12:22 p.m. - Red Raiders are backed up again after a 71-yard punt by the Bearkats. Hammond's pass is tipped and intercepted by Caesar Magee as boos rain down at Galaxy Stadium. Sam Houston, trailing 21-7, takes over with 2:21 to go until halftime at Tech's four-yard line.
12:19 p.m. - Texas Tech fumbled three times in the first half (twice on punt returns), with the third coming at the end of a wide-open 32-yard catch for Carpenter, which was Tech's first third-down conversion. Hammond's look into the end zone was then intercepted by Sam Houston safety Cam Franklin.
12:11 p.m. - After multiple long connections and offensive penalties, Landyn Locke dropped back on 1st-and-30 to find Tim Burns Jr. for a 52-yard touchdown. Bearkats trim into the deficit, trailing Texas Tech 21-7 with 8:17 to go in the half.
12:05 p.m. - The Red Raiders commit their third three-and-out of the opening half as a deep pass to Kenny Johnson over the middle was off-target for what could have been a breakaway touchdown. Hammond is just 4 of -7 for 58 yards through the air.
Advertisement
12:00 p.m. - Sam Houston punted for the third time with 11:14 remaining in the first half. The Bearkats bounce brought the ball to Texas Tech's 11-yard line.
11:50 a.m. - And before I could finish typing the last update, deja vu struck. Romaine intercepted another pass by, then took it 31 yards to the house. Texas Tech up 21-0 in the blink of an eye.
Romaine, who is aptly nicknamed "Lettuce" in the locker room, had just one career interception in three seasons at Kansas State, and it was against the Red Raiders. He doubled that total and scored his first two defensive touchdowns of his career on Saturday wearing the scarlet and black.
11:48 a.m. - On the first play of the second quarter, Austin Romaine intercepted a tipped pass and returned it 15 yards into the end zone for Texas Tech's first pick-six of the season. Red Raiders lead 14-0.
Advertisement
End of First Quarter - Texas Tech 7, Sam Houston 0
11:41 a.m. - The Red Raiders punt with 32 seconds remaining in the quarter. A series of rushes between the tackles was handled with ease by the Bearkats defensive line.
11:38 a.m. - An offensive pass interference negated a first-down catch on third-and-long for Sam Houston. The ensuing play made up the penalty yardage, but was short of the line to gain. Texas Tech called its second timeout of the first half before starting the possession at their own 29-yard line. Malcolm Simmons returned the punt instead of Johnson.
11:31 a.m. - Texas Tech spread the ball around to several playmakers, including wide receiver Kenny Johnson on a 35-yard connection and Cam Dickey, who rushed twice for a 12 total yards and the first touchdown of the game. Red Raiders lead 7-0 with 5:11 to go in the first quarter.
Advertisement
11:22 a.m. - Bearkats kicker Sam Carpenter missed a 48-yard field goal wide to the right. Texas Tech takes over at their own 30-yard line.
11:13 a.m. - Texas Tech goes three-and-out while backed up on their first possession. Backup quarterback Thomas Castellanos - who threw an interception on the first play from scrimmage last week - came in but was stopped on a short third-down run.
11:04 a.m. - Red Raiders won the toss and deferred to the second half. Bearkats began at their own 25-yard line but were forced into two incompletions and punted before getting across the 50-yard line. Texas Tech takes over at its own five-yard line after muffing the punt reception.
Pregame: Texas Tech announces it will be without star tight end Terrance Carter Jr., who, despite managing a foot injury, sustained an AC joint injury last week against the Cougars. Jett Carpenter is starting at tight end for the Red Raiders. See below for more.
Terrance Carter Taking Day Off For Texas Tech vs. Sam Houston
This story will be updated throughout the game
