Neal Brown, the head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers, had anticipated the challenge posed by the Texas Tech Red Raiders before the teams faced off at Jones AT&T Stadium. Brown was particularly concerned about whether his team’s offense could match the speed and efficiency of the Red Raiders. Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, the game did not unfold in their favor.
Texas Tech decisively defeated West Virginia with a final score of 52-15, scoring on their first seven possessions—including five touchdowns—an impressive display of offensive prowess.
A crucial moment in the game came in the first quarter when West Virginia failed to convert a fourth down. A short pass from Garrett Greene intended for Hudson Clement fell incomplete, a missed opportunity that Brown recognized as pivotal. He remarked that while the outcome of the game might not have been altered, that play shifted the momentum significantly.
Texas Tech capitalized on West Virginia’s misstep, extending their lead with a field goal before building it up to an overwhelming 42-3 advantage early in the third quarter. Brown noted that his team struggled defensively, particularly against the dynamic Texas Tech offense, which racked up 569 total yards, marking their second-highest offensive output of the season. The Mountaineers had difficulty tackling and were unable to contain players like Tahj Brooks, who totaled 188 yards and three touchdowns.
Linebacker Trey Lathan echoed the coach’s sentiments, emphasizing that Texas Tech’s quick pace and offensive strategy exhausted the Mountaineer defense and contributed to their struggles throughout the game.
In the wake of the defeat, Brown expressed disappointment in the performance, acknowledging that they did not meet the offensive expectations necessary to compete effectively. He indicated that the team needed to score significantly more points to have any hope of winning.
Despite the tough loss, this game can serve as a learning moment for West Virginia. The coaching staff and players can reflect on what went wrong to better prepare for future matchups, aiming to enhance their offensive strategies and tackle efficiency. Moving forward, the Mountaineers have the opportunity to regroup and focus on improvement, which could translate into better performances in upcoming games.