Texas Tech Athletics
7-6 , 5-4
California
6-7 , 4-5
Texas Tech wins Independence Bowl over Cal, 34-14
December 16, 2023 | Football
The Red Raiders secure their third-straight bowl win
SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) — Behren Morton completed 27 of 43 passes for 256 yards and three first-half touchdowns, leading Texas Tech to a 34-14 victory over California in the Independence Bowl on Saturday night.
Tahj Brooks ran for 98 yards and a score as the Red Raiders (7-6) shook off a terrible start. They shut out the Golden Bears (6-7) for the final three quarters to win the 47th edition of college football's 11th-oldest bowl game.
"The was the best, most complete game we've had all year," Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said. "I really thought we played extremely hard, very physical."
Texas Tech led 24-14 at halftime and Brooks, the nation's fourth-leading rusher, scored the only touchdown of the second half on a 7-yard run in the third quarter.
It was the third straight bowl win for the Red Raiders, who fumbled the opening kickoff. Cal freshman Fernando Mendoza then rifled a 25-yard touchdown pass to Monroe Young to give the Bears the lead 15 seconds into the game.
California had a golden opportunity to extend it, but Mendoza was injured on a third-down scramble to the Texas Tech 5. Cal passed on the field goal and was stuffed after Jaydn Ott took a direct snap.
Texas Tech capped the ensuing 93-yard drive with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Morton to Coy Eakin before Mendoza returned on the next possession.
"No way I can't go back into the game when we have everyone else fighting injuries," Mendoza said.
He needed just 94 seconds to help the Bears regain the lead. Ott's 1-yard touchdown run was preceded by a 51-yard pass from Mendoza to Trond Grizzell.
"Everything after that didn't go very well," Cal coach Justin Wilcox said.
Texas Tech had another immediate answer and tied the game at 14 with a 15-yard TD pass from Morton to Mason Tharp.
The Red Raiders' defense forced a three-and-out early in the second quarter and the offense continued to chew up yards — and points. A 14-yard strike from Morton to Loic Fouonji gave Texas Tech its first lead, 21-14.
A short field goal by Gino Garcia just before halftime made it 24-14. Garcia added a 37-yarder in the fourth quarter.
Ott finished with just 45 yards rushing on 16 carries.
"We were able to limit what he did, so we made them more one-dimensional," McGuire said. "Made (Mendoza) throw into coverages we wanted him to throw into."
Texas Tech lost its previous two trips to the Independence Bowl, both to Ole Miss in 1986 and 1998.
Team Stats
CAL 7, TTU 0
CAL - Young,Monroe 25 yd pass from Mendoza,Fernando (Bhaghani,Mateen kick) 1 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:05
CAL 7, TTU 7
TTU - Eakin,Coy 27 yd pass from Morton,Behren (Garcia,Gino kick) 10 plays, 93 yards, TOP 04:11
CAL 14, TTU 7
CAL - Ott,Jaydn 1 yd run (Bhaghani,Mateen kick), 5 plays, 74 yards, TOP 01:34
CAL 14, TTU 14
TTU - Tharp,Mason 15 yd pass from Morton,Behren (Garcia,Gino kick) 11 plays, 65 yards, TOP 05:13
CAL 14, TTU 21
TTU - Fouonji,Loic 14 yd pass from Morton,Behren (Garcia,Gino kick) 5 plays, 59 yards, TOP 01:42
CAL 14, TTU 24
TTU - Garcia,Gino 25 yd field goal 9 plays, 47 yards, TOP 02:17
CAL 14, TTU 31
TTU - Brooks,Tahj 7 yd run (Garcia,Gino kick), 2 plays, 15 yards, TOP 00:49
CAL 14, TTU 34
TTU - Garcia,Gino 37 yd field goal 4 plays, 1 yards, TOP 01:44
