Morton recognized as Big 12 Newcomer of the Week
October 24, 2022 | Football
Redshirt freshman threw for 325 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns in Texas Tech’s 48-10 rout of West Virginia
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech redshirt freshman quarterback Behren Morton was tabbed the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on Monday following his second 300-yard performance in the Red Raiders' 48-10 rout of West Virginia.
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It is the first career weekly honor for Morton, who became only the second Red Raider all-time to throw for at least 300 yards against Big 12 opponents in his first-ever two career starts. Morton finished 28-of-45 for 325 yards and a pair touchdowns against the Mountaineers, marking Texas Tech's largest margin of victory over a conference foe since drumming Kansas, 66-19, early in the 2017 campaign.
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Morton led the Red Raiders to a pair of touchdowns on their first two possessions and then added a pair of big-play strikes, finding Xavier White for a 55-yard touchdown early in the third quarter and then Loic Fouonji on a 12-yard score less than seven minutes later. The two touchdowns broke open a 17-3 halftime lead, sending the Red Raiders to a decisive Homecoming victory.
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Texas Tech converted on six fourth down attempts on the first two possessions alone with Morton being responsible for five of those either through the air (four times) or by his legs (once). The Red Raiders turned those new first downs into 14 early points behind a pair of rushing touchdowns near the goal line from Tahj Brooks.
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Morton departed the game early in the fourth quarter with the lead in hand as he became the eighth Red Raider in the Big 12 era to throw for at least 300 yards in his first career list. He joined a prestigious group of Red Raider greats consisting of Sonny Cumbie (2004), Cody Hodges (2005), Graham Harrell (2006), Taylor Potts (2009), Baker Mayfield (2013), Davis Webb (2013) and Nic Shimnek. Of that group, only Webb was able to do so versus Big 12 foes like Morton.
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For Morton, it was a similar performance to his debut as the Red Raiders' starter behind center as he previously completed 39-of-62 passes for 379 yards and two touchdowns on Oct. 8 at Oklahoma State. That performance marked the third-highest total for a Red Raider making his starting debut against a Big 12 foe.
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This is the fourth Big 12 weekly award of the season for the Red Raiders as fellow quarterback Donovan Smith was tabbed the league's top offensive performer on Sept. 12 after the win over Houston, while Trey Wolff and Reggie Pearson Jr. were both recognized for their efforts on special teams and defensively Sept. 26 following win over Texas.
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Texas Tech returns to Jones AT&T Stadium this Saturday when the Red Raiders host Baylor in a 6:30 p.m. kickoff in front of a soldout Jones AT&T Stadium. Coverage will be provided nationally on ESPN2 and the Texas Tech Sports Network.
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It is the first career weekly honor for Morton, who became only the second Red Raider all-time to throw for at least 300 yards against Big 12 opponents in his first-ever two career starts. Morton finished 28-of-45 for 325 yards and a pair touchdowns against the Mountaineers, marking Texas Tech's largest margin of victory over a conference foe since drumming Kansas, 66-19, early in the 2017 campaign.
Â
Morton led the Red Raiders to a pair of touchdowns on their first two possessions and then added a pair of big-play strikes, finding Xavier White for a 55-yard touchdown early in the third quarter and then Loic Fouonji on a 12-yard score less than seven minutes later. The two touchdowns broke open a 17-3 halftime lead, sending the Red Raiders to a decisive Homecoming victory.
Â
Texas Tech converted on six fourth down attempts on the first two possessions alone with Morton being responsible for five of those either through the air (four times) or by his legs (once). The Red Raiders turned those new first downs into 14 early points behind a pair of rushing touchdowns near the goal line from Tahj Brooks.
Â
Morton departed the game early in the fourth quarter with the lead in hand as he became the eighth Red Raider in the Big 12 era to throw for at least 300 yards in his first career list. He joined a prestigious group of Red Raider greats consisting of Sonny Cumbie (2004), Cody Hodges (2005), Graham Harrell (2006), Taylor Potts (2009), Baker Mayfield (2013), Davis Webb (2013) and Nic Shimnek. Of that group, only Webb was able to do so versus Big 12 foes like Morton.
Â
For Morton, it was a similar performance to his debut as the Red Raiders' starter behind center as he previously completed 39-of-62 passes for 379 yards and two touchdowns on Oct. 8 at Oklahoma State. That performance marked the third-highest total for a Red Raider making his starting debut against a Big 12 foe.
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This is the fourth Big 12 weekly award of the season for the Red Raiders as fellow quarterback Donovan Smith was tabbed the league's top offensive performer on Sept. 12 after the win over Houston, while Trey Wolff and Reggie Pearson Jr. were both recognized for their efforts on special teams and defensively Sept. 26 following win over Texas.
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Texas Tech returns to Jones AT&T Stadium this Saturday when the Red Raiders host Baylor in a 6:30 p.m. kickoff in front of a soldout Jones AT&T Stadium. Coverage will be provided nationally on ESPN2 and the Texas Tech Sports Network.
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Big 12 Newcomer of the Week - @BehrenMorton ??#WreckEm | @Big12Conference pic.twitter.com/QJ5BKbtmVI
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) October 24, 2022
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