Behren Morton threw for four touchdowns and Tahj Brooks ran for three and caught another as Texas Tech prevailed in a wild game with Oklahoma State, winning 56-48 on Saturday at Stillwater, Okla.
With all the offense, it was a defensive play that perhaps made the biggest difference. Instead of Oklahoma State pulling even as had been the trend on the afternoon, Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez scooped a fumble and ran for a touchdown with 4:45 remaining for the first of his two key late-game plays.
Suddenly, the Red Raiders (7-4, 5-3 Big 12 Conference) held a two-possession lead. But Maealiuaki Smith connected with Rashod Owens for a 10-yard touchdown (the extra-point attempt failed) to close the gap to eight points with 2:35 left in regulation.
Morton finished 35-for-50 for 366 yards with an interception.
Ollie Gordon II rushed for three touchdowns and 156 yards for Oklahoma State (3-8, 0-8), which lost its eighth consecutive game.
Smith threw for two touchdowns and 326 yards with one interception for the Cowboys. Smith played in place of Alan Bowman, a former Texas Tech player who had led Oklahoma State in passing in every game this season.
After Owens’ late touchdown, Texas Tech tried to keep possession to run out the clock. Morton had a 12-yard run on third-and-11. Still, the Red Raiders ended up punting, but Oklahoma State’s last-ditch effort was doomed by Rodriguez interception at the 50 with 7 seconds remaining.
Caleb Douglas, Jalin Conyers, Mason Tharp and Brooks made TD receptions for the Red Raiders. Brooks also gained 133 rushing yards on 28 carries, and Douglas accumulated 105 receiving yards on five catches.
Oklahoma State’s De’Zhaun Stribling (133 yards) and Owens (124) were tops in receiving yards.
Texas Tech never trailed, but the score was tied at 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42.
Brooks put the Red Raiders up 49-42 on his 1-yard touchdown run with 6:12 remaining in the fourth quarter. That was his third touchdown run in a 15-minute span.
The feisty nature of the game resulted in unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against both teams in the fourth quarter.
–Field Level Media
