Texas Tech football drowns in turnovers, failed 4th downs | Report card
PULLMAN, Wash. — Washington State erupted for three touchdowns in the last nine minutes of the first half and beat the Texas Tech football team 37-16 Saturday night at Gesa Field.
Quarterback John Mateer ran for one touchdown and passed for another in the first half, which ended with Washington State (2-0) leading 27-10. Mateer rattled off a 68-yard burst in the fourth quarter and finished the game with 197 yards on the ground.
The Cougars opened a 21-3 lead on a 43-yard run by Wayshawn Parker and a 2-yard run by Djouvensky Schlenbaker 16 seconds apart in the second quarter. Parker scored one play after the Cougars tackled Jalin Conyers short on fourth down. Schlenbaker scored one play after Buddah Al-Uqdah stripped the ball away from receiver Josh Kelly and ran it down to the Tech 2-yard line.
Another short touchdown by Schlenbaker made it 34-10 in the third.
Tech (1-1) played without Tahj Brooks. Last year's 1,500-yard rusher traveled with the team but didn't suit up.
More: Texas Tech football star RB Tahj Brooks ruled out for Washington State game with injury
The injury toll mounted for the Red Raiders, who lost left tackle Sterling Porcher and left guard Vinny Sciury on the same series in the third quarter. Sciury was helped off the field, putting no weight on his left leg.
Tech got a 37-yard field goal from Gino Garcia and a 20-yard trick-play touchdown pass from Coy Eakin to Johncarlos Miller in the first half, and Behren Morton's 12-yard scoring pass to Cameron Dickey in the fourth quarter.
Here is the Red Raiders' report card.
Offense: F
This had tough assignment written all over it with Brooks out. The Red Raiders moved the ball decently between the 20s, but turnovers and failed fourth downs were killers.
Defense: D
Mateer hurt the Red Raiders as much with his legs as with his arm. Six WSU series started in Tech territory thanks to turnovers and turnovers on downs, so the Red Raiders were constantly having to defend short fields.
Special teams: C
A muff on the opening kickoff by the Red Raiders wound up not costing them. A short punt by Jack Burgess put WSU in position for an early touchdown, though, and the Cougars played keepaway from Dray McCray.
Coaching: D
Tech wilted on two sudden-change situations, one after a failed fourth down from its 43, the other after a turnover. WSU scored touchdowns on the first play after both.
Overall: F
Playing Washington State was supposed to be easier than playing Oregon. Dodging the Ducks didn't help.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football drowns in turnovers, failed 4th downs | Report card
