Neal Brown, the head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers, anticipated a challenging match against the Texas Tech football team and hoped his offense could match the Red Raiders’ speed. Unfortunately for Brown and his team, things did not go as planned.
In a stunning display of strength, Texas Tech (8-4, 6-3) dominated the Mountaineers with a commanding 52-15 victory. The Red Raiders scored touchdowns on their first five possessions, consistently pressuring West Virginia and taking control of the game early on.
Brown identified a critical moment that might have altered the game’s outcome: a missed fourth-down conversion in the first quarter when Hudson Clement failed to catch a brief pass from Garrett Greene. He reflected, “That would’ve been a big play. I don’t know if we win, but it’s definitely not the ass-whooping it ended up being.” Instead, Texas Tech capitalized on the Mountaineers’ mistake, extending their lead to an insurmountable 42-3 by the early third quarter.
West Virginia struggled to contain the Red Raiders’ offense, which was spearheaded by standout performances from Tahj Brooks, who rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns, and Josh Kelly, who caught nine passes for 150 yards. The Red Raiders amassed a total of 569 yards of offense, marking one of their most productive outings of the season.
Brown acknowledged the mismatch in speed and talent, highlighting the impact of several injuries that hampered his team’s defensive efforts. Linebacker Trey Lathan echoed this sentiment, noting how Texas Tech’s quick plays exhausted the Mountaineers and neutralized their defensive line.
In his post-game remarks, Brown recognized that his team needed to transition to a higher-scoring game, admitting, “We knew we were going to have to be up in the 30s or 40s to win, and we just didn’t do that.” This defeat forced the Mountaineers to reevaluate their strategy and performance as they look to improve in future games.
This tough loss provides the West Virginia Mountaineers with a scope for reflection and growth, emphasizing the necessity of resilience and adaptation in the face of adversity. With the right adjustments, they can bounce back stronger, demonstrating their determination to improve and compete at a higher level.
In summary, Texas Tech’s resounding victory showcased their offensive prowess while leaving the Mountaineers with critical lessons to learn as they move forward in their season.