Texas Tech football holds BYU to season lows, handing Cougars first loss
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With the Texas Tech football team given its biggest stage in years, the Red Raiders played some sporadic offense, making the sort of mistakes coach Joey McGuire says will cost them someday.
Saturday, Nov. 8, wasn’t that day — because the Red Raiders‘ defense continues to give them a sizable margin for error.
Tech dominated visiting Brigham Young 29-7, a program known for offense, putting its newfound trademark defense on display again for an energized crowd at Jones AT&T Stadium and ESPN’s College GameDay. The Red Raiders held BYU to season lows of 255 yards total offense, including 67 rushing, and took a shutout into the fourth quarter.
“The one thing that makes this team different is we can rely on a defense,” McGuire said. “Anytime, no matter what’s going on in football at any level, if you can play defense and run the football, you’re going to have an opportunity to be in games. … Man, (defensive coordinator) Shiel (Wood) has those guys dialed in.”
Tech (9-1, 6-1 in the Big 12) went into the game No. 9 in both major polls and No. 8 in the first College Football Playoff rankings, one spot behind BYU (8-1, 5-1) in both. The Red Raiders took over first place in the Big 12 with games remaining against Central Florida at home on Nov. 15 and at West Virginia on Nov. 29.
Tech has nine wins for the first time since 2009, all by more than 21 points.
It’s not as if BYU doesn’t have weapons. Freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier, running back L.J. Martin, and receivers Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston are known quantities.
“I think as a great defense, you need to stop the run,” linebacker Jacob Rodriguez said. “If you can stop the run, you can get them into second and third and pass situations, then you earn the right to rush the passer. And so the big focus was on stopping the run.”
Martin went into the week as the Big 12 rushing leader and managed 35 yards on 10 carries. Bachmeier completed 23 of 38 passes for 188 yards, much of it after the Red Raiders had put the game out of reach on the way to a 26-0 lead.
The 230-pound Bachmeier poses a threat running, having rushed for 408 yards and 9 touchdowns before Saturday. But the Red Raiders held him to 12 yards on the ground. In a signature moment late in the first half, he leaped into the air, and safety Cole Wisniewski tackled him in body slam fashion. Wisniewski finished with 10 tackles.
“Our defense has played at a really high level all year long,” McGuire said. “One thing that I talked to them (about) is dominate up front. We wanted to stop the run. That’s the number-one running back in the Big 12 yardage-wise, L.J. I love L.J. And that quarterback has been electric with his feet, and they have a really good offensive line.
“So we stopped the run, and when you do that, you’ve got a chance to rush the passer.”
McGuire has promoted Rodriguez for Heisman Trophy consideration in recent weeks. The fifth-year senior added to his case with 14 tackles, including a tackle for loss and an interception. For the season, he has 91 tackles, 9 1/2 tackles behind the line, an FBS-leading 7 forced fumbles, five pass breakups, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
Stone Harrington kicked a school record five field goals, converting from 47, 27, 39, 29 and 34 yards. Harrington’s 16 of 19 this season, and, combined with Upton Bellenfant, Red Raiders kickers are 22 of 25.
That’s a lot of field goals, and the Red Raiders would like to turn more chances into touchdowns. Just before halftime, Coy Eakin and Terrance Carter Jr. dropped would-be touchdown passes. McGuire also bemoaned a couple of pre-snap penalties in short-yardage situations.
“There were a lot of times that we didn’t execute on offense — very frustrating,” McGuire said, “and things that we’ve got to clean up to continue to get better. We have too many self-inflicted wounds, and we’re still winning at the level we’re winning at, but in a tight game, it’s going to catch up with you.”
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football holds BYU to season lows, gives Cougars first loss
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