FORT WORTH — Texas Tech held a 34-21 lead over TCU late in the third quarter but fell flat defensively in the fourth quarter as the Horned Frogs escaped with a 35-34 win at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth on Saturday.
Here are five takeaways from the game.
Tech bounces back after disaster start
It looked like it would be an ugly one in Fort Worth after the first quarter as the Red Raiders had no answer for TCU wide receiver Savion Williams, who was aligned in the backfield on both of his scores, one receiving and one rushing.
Tech quickly bounced back after falling flat early with the help of a strip sack recovered by Harvey Dyson III,. Dyson’s effort was a larger answer for Tech in pressuring the quarterback through three quarters.
Tech falls flat in fourth
The Tech defense seemed to have figured out the answer to stop the TCU offense — until an explosion of offense from the Frogs to win the game.
An 84-yard touchdown from TCU wide receiver Eric McAlister proved to be the difference. He beat Texas Tech defensive back Macho Stevenson down the TCU sideline to cap off the comeback.
Fake field goal provides first half spark
Coming off that strip sack and fumble recovery from Dyson, the Red Raiders got into the endzone with a bit of trickery.
Tech’s offense couldn’t punch it in from the TCU 4-yard line traditionally but was able to get into the end zone with a fake field goal that was ran in by kicker Reese Burkhardt, helping the Red Raiders take a 17-14 lead at the half.
Morton suffers injury near half
Texas Tech lost its quarterback Behren Morton after he dove on his left shoulder to gain a yard with 1:35 left on the clock in the first half. He was sacked on Tech’s final play of the half.
Morton didn’t return to the game in the second half and was seen in a sling on his left shoulder. It was reminiscent of the injury he suffered to his throwing shoulder that hampered him throughout the 2023 season.
Tech takes two-game skid to Ames
The Red Raiders have now dropped two straight in the Big 12, both devastating losses, but for different reasons. A blowout loss at home to Baylor and a fourth quarter collapse on the road against TCU have halted Tech’s great start in Big 12 play.
Tech now heads to Iowa State, where it will take on the 7-0 (4-0 Big 12) Cyclones in what seems like a daunting task for the Red Raiders.
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