Texas Tech Athletics
1-1
Lamar
1-1
Texas Tech Blanks Lamar In Home Opener, 77-0
September 08, 2018 | Football
The Red Raiders record largest margin of victory since 1932
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Texas Tech got more than just another victory in a home opener. The Red Raiders bounced back from a frustrating first game by doing a lot of things they haven't done in a long time.
True freshman Alan Bowman threw for 282 yards and two scores while playing only the first half, and the Red Raiders had a modern-day team record with seven rushing touchdowns in a 77-0 win over Lamar on Saturday. They won their 19th consecutive home opener with their first shutout since 2006 and most points since 2005.
"That's what we preach, stopping them from scoring the ball, giving the ball back to the offense so they can get more points on the board," linebacker Riko Jeffers said.
A week after falling 47-27 against Mississippi in Houston, the Red Raiders (1-1) had their highest-scoring game since an 80-21 win over Sam Houston State in 2005.
"Defensively, I thought it was good to get a shutout," coach Kliff Kingsbury said. "It wasn't the cleanest game. Offense, there were way too many penalties. That's something we talked about, doing the little things and not hurting ourselves. We didn't get that accomplished. ... That was disappointing."
Despite 14 penalties for 139 yards, including some that took touchdowns off the board, the Red Raiders had their biggest margin of victory since a 79-0 win over Trinity in 1932, seven years after a 120-0 win over Wayland in the school's first season of football.
Demarcus Felton and freshmen Ta'Zhawn Henry and Sarodorick Thompson each had two rushing touchdowns. Texas Tech hadn't rushed for more than five TDs in a game since 1950; the school record is 12, which was done twice (1925 and 1932).
Bowman completed 22 of 25 passes and helped the Red Raiders take a 42-0 lead after becoming the fourth freshman quarterback to start a game for them in Kingsbury's six seasons. The others: Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield and Davis Webb.
"What he's done really well the last two games is not have negative plays, no sacks, and hasn't turned the football over," Kingsbury said. "That's what we're looking for. Be efficient, make quick decisions, and eliminate negative plays."
Lamar (1-1) already trailed 14-0 after having zero net yards on its first three offensive series. The Cardinals finished with 182 yards.
"They're a great fast-break team. They're big, strong, physical, fast, and they did a great job," Lamar coach Mike Schultz said. "The defense was out there just way too long. They wore out, they got tired. They were just out there way too long."
THE TAKEAWAY
Lamar: After scoring 70 points in an opener against Kentucky Christian, an NAIA school with about 500 students, the Cardinals found themselves on the opposite side of a rout against a strong Texas Tech defense wanting to make amends for an opening 47-27 loss.
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders finished with 683 total yards while bouncing back strong from their 47-27 loss in Houston against Mississippi, which was the first time since 2002 they lost their first game of a season.Â
UP NEXT
Lamar: The Cardinals play their Southland Conference opener at home against Northwestern State next Saturday night.
Texas Tech: Houston (2-0), coming off a 45-18 home win over Arizona and former head coach Kevin Sumlin, travels to Lubbock next Saturday to take on the Red Raiders and Kingsbury, who was one of Sumlin's assistants with the Cougars. It will be Texas Tech's final non-conference game.
Today's Game Ball goes to Riko Jeffers, who had a team-high 9 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, a QB hurry and a forced fumble in Tech's first shutout victory since 2006! #806D
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) September 9, 2018
??#WreckEm?? pic.twitter.com/2UUM8yxw7o
Team Stats
LU 0, TTU 7
TTU - High, Ja'Deion 11 yd pass from Bowman, Alan (Hatfield, Clayt kick) 8 plays, 51 yards, TOP 2:44
LU 0, TTU 14
TTU - Felton, Dem. 6 yd run (Hatfield, Clayt kick), 1 plays, 6 yards, TOP 0:05
LU 0, TTU 21
TTU - Thompson, S. 8 yd run (Hatfield, Clayt kick), 12 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:00
LU 0, TTU 28
TTU - Henry, Ta'Zhawn 2 yd run (Hatfield, Clayt kick), 10 plays, 87 yards, TOP 3:53
LU 0, TTU 35
TTU - Wesley, Antoine 66 yd pass from Bowman, Alan (Hatfield, Clayt kick) 2 plays, 71 yards, TOP 0:34
LU 0, TTU 42
TTU - Felton, Dem. 1 yd run (Hatfield, Clayt kick), 8 plays, 38 yards, TOP 1:32
LU 0, TTU 49
TTU - Duffey, Jett 11 yd run (Hatfield, Clayt kick), 8 plays, 63 yards, TOP 2:04
LU 0, TTU 56
TTU - Henry, Ta'Zhawn 1 yd run (Hatfield, Clayt kick), 8 plays, 58 yards, TOP 2:41
LU 0, TTU 63
TTU - Thompson, S. 21 yd run (Hatfield, Clayt kick), 4 plays, 50 yards, TOP 1:03
LU 0, TTU 70
TTU - Frye, Adrian 48 yd interception (Hatfield, Clayt kick)
LU 0, TTU 77
TTU - Ezukanma, Erik 44 yd pass from Garrett, Colt (Hatfield, Clayt kick) 4 plays, 31 yards, TOP 1:49
