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“I really think every game takes on a personality and a life of its own and you never know how games are gonna go. You never know.” ~ Steve Sarkisian
LUBBOCK, Texas — In the last 21 seconds of the fourth quarter Texas again demonstrated their ability to play elite football, like they did against Alabama, when it looked obvious Texas Tech would win after going up 34-31. Texas drove the ball 46 yards on four plays that put the game into overtime after a Bert Auburn 48 yard field goal. In overtime — somehow, Texas Tech walked away with the win over No. 22 ranked Texas 37-34 after a 20 yard field goal.
Let’s look at the game and explore what happened.
The first Texas drive of the game was three plays long with a Hudson Card to Keilan Robinson pass for 35 yards and a touchdown. In the first quarter of play, Texas had 12 plays (14 if you include the point after and field goal) that resulted in 10 points.
Texas put up 105 total yards, no turnovers or penalties and controlled the ball for 5:13 leaving the remaining 9:47 to the Texas defense who battled for 24 plays and held Texas Tech to seven points.
In the second quarter Texas put up 14 more points with an eight yard Bijan Robinson touchdown and 39 yard pass from Hudson Card to Xavier Worthy, his first receiving touchdown of the season. Texas put up 167 total yards (113 passing, 54 rushing), and controlled the ball for 8:01 leaving the defense on the field for 6:59 and 17 plays against Texas Tech.
Sarkisian talked about ‘drive efficiency’ last week. In the first half, Texas had a total of five drives, 34 plays for 278 yards giving them 24 points, and controlled the clock for 13:14. By comparison, Texas Tech also had five drives, 40 plays for 175 yards giving them 14 points, and controlled the ball for 16:46.
After the half, Texas put up a touchdown in the third quarter on a 40 yard run by Bijan Roboinson on the second drive of three total drives. Texas has 15 plays for 85 yard. Texas Tech put up 10 points in the quarter on four drives, 42 plays for 205 yards.
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The game defining fourth quarter, Texas only scored three points on a field goal from 48 yards from Bert Auburn to tie the game and send it into overtime. Texas Tech controlled the fourth quarter scoring 10 points on 26 plays for 133 total yards and having the ball for 11:16 to Texas’ 3:44.
In overtime Texas Tech won the toss and elected to defend instead of receive leaving one to conclude that they believed their chances were better they would stop Texas’ offense and get the ball back. After one of the rarest events in recent Texas history, Bijan Robinson fumbled the ball on the first play of the first drive in overtime to give Texas Tech back the ball on their 25 yard line. After trying to score on four plays and getting the ball to the Texas two-yard line, Texas Tech punches in a 20 yard field goal to win the game.
Texas put up 426 total yards (277 passing, 149 rushing), 20 first downs (Tech 31 first downs), 60 plays (Tech 100 plays), and controlled the ball for 24:06 minutes versus 35:54 for Texas Tech.
Hudson Card threw 20-30 for 277 and two touchdowns. For Texas receivers Jordan Whittington went 4-53, Xavier Worthy 3-50 and one touchdown, Keilan Robinson 1-35 and one touchdown. On Texas rushing, Bijan Robinson 16-101 and two touchdowns (123 all purpose yards), Hudson Card, the quarterback, 3-24 yards, Roschon Johnson 9-15, and Keilan Robinson 2-9.
Texas was more of a passing team than running team.
Question for next week’s game against West Virginia at DKR. Is Texas the underdog?
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