Texas Tech Athletics
3-4 , 2-2
Kansas State
4-2 , 2-1
Texas Tech falls to Kansas State
October 14, 2023 | Football
Jake Strong led Tech to a 99-yard drive to take a 21-17 lead
Johnson finished with 91 yards rushing as the Wildcats (4-2, 2-1 Big 12) bounced back from a surprising loss at Oklahoma State with an eighth consecutive victory in the series for the defending Big 12 champions.
Jake Strong led a 99-yard drive to the only lead for Texas Tech (3-4, 2-2) in his debut in the third quarter after replacing injured starter Behren Morton. But the freshman threw three interceptions after the Wildcats had gone back in front.
Morton, who was starting because of the third long-term injury in as many seasons to Tyler Shough, was slow to get up several times in the first half and was ruled out after the break because of an undisclosed injury.
Strong's second series started at the Texas Tech 1-yard line, but his 13-yard pass got the drive going.
Strong ran 54 yards to set up an 8-yard scoring pass on third down, when he lofted a pass just as he was hit hard in the pocket and Jerand Bradley got a foot down as he fell out the back of the end zone to give the Red Raiders a 21-17 lead.
Johnson, whose only other touchdown came in a blowout of Southeast Missouri State in the opener, replaced Howard on the third series and scored on a 2-yard run for a 10-0 lead.
Howard, a senior closing in on 30 career games, returned several times in the first half, but it was Johnson's show after the break.
His 30-yard run put Kansas State back in front for good at 24-21, and Johnson's 11-yard score put the Wildcats up 10 the first play after VJ Payne's 17-yard return of Strong's first interception.
After Kobe Savage corralled Strong's third interception in the end zone, Johnson led an 80-yard drive to the game-sealing score, a 3-yard run for his fifth TD.
Treshaun Ward had 118 yards rushing as the Wildcats finished with 273 yards on the ground, the most allowed by Texas Tech this season.
Tahj Brooks ran for 98 yards and a touchdown for Texas Tech, and Morton scored on a 1-yard plunge.
The Red Raiders just can't seem to escape injuries at quarterback. Shough had played the deepest into the season of the Oregon transfer's three years in Lubbock before breaking a leg. Now the question is how soon Morton might return, if at all. This could be a serious test of the QB depth chart.
Up Next
Texas Tech travels to BYU next Saturday in the second meeting between the schools. The other was in 1940.
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Team Stats
KSU 3, TTU 0
KSU - Tennant,Chris 47 yd field goal 8 plays, 50 yards, TOP 03:32
KSU 10, TTU 0
KSU - Johnson,Avery 2 yd run (Tennant,Chris kick), 5 plays, 59 yards, TOP 02:15
KSU 10, TTU 7
TTU - Morton,Behren 1 yd run (Garcia,Gino kick), 14 plays, 75 yards, TOP 06:01
KSU 17, TTU 7
KSU - Johnson,Avery 5 yd run (Tennant,Chris kick), 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 02:44
KSU 17, TTU 14
TTU - Brooks,Tahj 2 yd run (Garcia,Gino kick), 7 plays, 89 yards, TOP 00:54
KSU 17, TTU 21
TTU - Bradley,Jerand 8 yd pass from Strong,Jake (Garcia,Gino kick) 10 plays, 99 yards, TOP 04:04
KSU 24, TTU 21
KSU - Johnson,Avery 30 yd run (Tennant,Chris kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:07
KSU 31, TTU 21
KSU - Johnson,Avery 11 yd run (Tennant,Chris kick), 1 plays, 11 yards, TOP 00:04
KSU 38, TTU 21
KSU - Johnson,Avery 3 yd run (Tennant,Chris kick), 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 05:59
