Neal Brown, the head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers, anticipated that facing the Texas Tech football team at Jones AT&T Stadium would present challenges. However, he hoped his team’s offensive capabilities would be sufficient to match the rapid pace of the Red Raiders.
Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, things did not go as planned. Texas Tech (8-4, 6-3) jumped out to an early lead, scoring on each of their first seven possessions and ultimately delivering a decisive 52-15 defeat to West Virginia.
Brown pointed to a crucial moment early in the game when the Mountaineers failed to convert a fourth down attempt. A short pass intended for Hudson Clement from Garrett Greene fell incomplete, which Brown believed could have shifted the game’s momentum. “That would’ve been a big play,” he stated. “I don’t know if we win, but it’s definitely not the ass-whooping it ended up being.”
The Red Raiders capitalized on this missed opportunity by extending their lead to 6-3 with a second field goal from Gino Garcia, which soon ballooned to a staggering 42-3 by the beginning of the third quarter. West Virginia struggled to respond, unable to contain Texas Tech’s offense, despite Brown’s pre-game awareness of the potential mismatch.
The game saw standout performances from Tahj Brooks, who rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns, and Josh Kelly, who caught nine passes for 150 yards. Overall, Texas Tech accumulated a remarkable 569 yards of total offense, marking a significant offensive output on their part.
Brown acknowledged the difficulties faced by his team, mentioning the impact of injuries and a lack of defensive efficiency in tackling and pressure against the Red Raiders’ quick plays. Linebacker Trey Lathan echoed this sentiment, affirming Brown’s analysis of the team’s struggles against a fast-paced offense effectively wearing down their defensive line.
Brown concluded that the team’s performance was simply “not good enough,” recognizing that the Red Raiders excelled in creating space for their athletes. He noted the undeniable talent Texas Tech possesses, particularly in open field situations, which proved too challenging for the Mountaineers to manage throughout the game. “We knew we were going to have to be up in the 30s or 40s to win, and we just didn’t do that,” he said.
Although this defeat may be disheartening for West Virginia fans, it presents a valuable learning opportunity for the team as they aim to improve in future matchups. Emphasizing resilience and adaptation in response to this loss could help pave their way to better success ahead.
In summary, Texas Tech overwhelmed West Virginia with a commanding performance, leaving the Mountaineers to reassess their strategy and focus on growth as they move forward in the season.