Red Raiders Top SFA in Home Opener
September 11, 2021 | Football
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Tahj Brooks ran for two touchdowns in the third quarter, including a 67-yarder for the lead, and Texas Tech held on to beat lower-division Stephen F. Austin 28-22 on Saturday night.
The Red Raiders (2-0) made a stand in the final two minutes, forcing a turnover on downs after the FCS Lumberjacks had a first down inside the Texas Tech 10-yard line. Trae Self's fourth-down pass into the end zone was incomplete.
Texas Tech defensive tackle Jaylon Hutchings came up huge with a tackle for loss and a sack on consecutive plays before a QB pressure of Self on the final play for SFA (1-1).
After Brooks' long scoring run, Xavier White broke free for 52 yards on a 97-yard drive that ended with a short TD run.
Leading 21-13, Texas Tech went for it on fourth down on the final play of the third quarter, and Tyler Shough fumbled on a sack. The ball ended up 39 yards behind the line of scrimmage, and SFA scored but couldn't convert the 2-point try, settling for a 21-19 deficit.
The Red Raiders pushed their lead to 28-19 on a White's 4-yard touchdown run, which was set up by Erik Ezukanma's 55-yard catch-and-run on third-and-8.
The Lumberjacks led 13-7 at halftime, keyed by Willie Roberts' 18-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Self finished with 342 yards passing.
THE TAKEAWAY
Texas Tech: It was quite a familiar feeling at the end for the Red Raiders. In their home opener last year, they had to stop a 2-point conversion late in the fourth quarter for a 35-33 victory over another FCS team, Houston Baptist.
UP NEXT
Stephen F. Austin: Mississippi Valley State at home next Saturday.
Texas Tech: The final non-conference game is at home against Florida International next Saturday.
?? RING THE BELLS!! ??#WreckEm pic.twitter.com/m3d9gzftrs
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) September 12, 2021
Team Stats

SFA 0, TTU 7
TTU - Ezukanma, Erik 75 yd pass from Shough, Tyler (Garibay, J. kick) 3 plays, 77 yards, TOP 1:09

SFA 7, TTU 7
SFA - Roberts, Willie 18 yd interception (Campos, Chris kick)

SFA 10, TTU 7
SFA - Campos, Chris 23 yd field goal 7 plays, 17 yards, TOP 2:47

SFA 13, TTU 7
SFA - Campos, Chris 35 yd field goal 13 plays, 65 yards, TOP 6:22

SFA 13, TTU 14
TTU - Brooks, Tahj 67 yd run (Garibay, J. kick), 3 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:03

SFA 13, TTU 21
TTU - Brooks, Tahj 1 yd run (Garibay, J. kick), 9 plays, 97 yards, TOP 4:22

SFA 19, TTU 21
SFA - Young, Ja'Bray 4 yd pass from Self, Trae (Self, Trae passfailed) 3 plays, 26 yards, TOP 1:03

SFA 19, TTU 28
TTU - White, Xavier 4 yd run (Garibay, J. kick), 4 plays, 65 yards, TOP 1:27

SFA 22, TTU 28
SFA - Campos, Chris 36 yd field goal 10 plays, 58 yards, TOP 5:17