No. 13 Texas Tech snapped an eight-game losing streak to Kansas State with a 43-20 Big 12 win on Saturday in Manhattan, Kan.
The Red Raiders (8-1, 5-1 Big 12) had not beaten the Wildcats since 2015 — when Patrick Mahomes was at the controls for a 59-44 victory — and had not won at Kansas State since 2008.
J’Koby Williams helped the Red Raiders hold off the Wildcats (4-5, 3-3). He opened the second half with a 41-yard touchdown run and finished with 135 yards on 17 carries.
Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez forced two key fumbles that led to scores. The senior leads the nation with seven forced fumbles and has 13 for his career.
The Red Raiders forced five turnovers — two interceptions and three fumbles.
Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton, playing for the first time since Oct. 11 due to a lower body injury, completed 21 of 32 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns.
Avery Johnson led the Wildcats, completing 16 of 33 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown. He also ran 15 times for 88 yards and two touchdowns.
Texas Tech dominated time of possession in the first half, controlling the ball for 19:54 as the Red Raiders outgained the Wildcats 187-105.
However, for most of the first half, the Wildcats were able to keep the high-scoring Red Raiders under control. Texas Tech was scoreless until 6:31 remained in the first half when Stone Harrington kicked a 29-yard field to cut Kansas State’s lead to 7-3.
The rest of the half went the Red Raiders’ way.
On the second play after the field goal, Jayce Brown ran into traffic on a pass and fumbled at the Kansas State 19. Rodriguez forced the fumble for Texas Tech.
Five plays later, Cameron Dickey took it over from one yard out. The extra point was missed, leaving Texas Tech with a 9-7 lead with 3:45 left in the half.
Kansas State went three-and-out, which allowed Texas Tech to regain possession with 1:52 left and all of its timeouts available.
Seven plays later, Harrington nailed a 55-yard field goal as time expired to give the Red Raiders a 12-7 lead at half.
The Red Raiders shut down the Wildcats’ passing attack as Johnson was only able to complete three of nine passes for 31 yards in the first 30 minutes.
Johnson, however, gave the Wildcats the early lead when he took a read-option around right end for a 46-yard touchdown with 7:39 left in the first.
The junior, who had five rushing touchdowns in a win over Texas Tech two seasons ago, rushed for an 18-yard score to pull Kansas State within 19-14 at the 9:51 mark of the third – but Texas Tech answered with Harrington’s 29-yard field goal as the Wildcats never got closer than eight points again.
–Field Level Media
