West Virginia large receiver Rodney Gallagher (24) retains possession of the ball for a landing throughout Saturday's sport at Texas Tech. (Photograph by Kevin Kinder/BlueGoldNews.com)
LUBBOCK, Texas — Texas Tech's offense received occurring Saturday afternoon. A lot to the chagrin of the West Virginia soccer workforce, so did the Mountaineer protection. And the Mountaineer offense couldn't make up for it.
The Purple Raiders destroyed WVU's defensive unit within the two groups' common season finale, racking up 569 yards as West Virginia's offense had no solutions for one of many nation's worst defenses in a 52-15 victory over the Mountaineers at Jones AT&T Stadium. . The Mountaineers have yet another sport to play as they’re already bowl eligible, however they’ll enter that sport to be decided after their most lopsided lack of the season.
The earlier low level was a 27-point loss to Kansas State, a sport riddled with accidents to WVU. The Mountaineers (6-6, 5-Four Large 12) wanted a pair of touchdowns with the sport in hand to complete with a 37-point deficit on Saturday.
The end was sealed at halftime, with WVU trailing 35-Three and unable to sluggish the pace of sunshine, the high-powered offense of Texas Tech (Eight-Four, 6-Three Large 12).
“We weren't ok within the first half, guys” WVU coach Neal Brown mentioned after the sport. “I believed our guys competed within the first half, however simply all three phases within the first half have been actually poor.
“Within the successful interval within the first half, we simply didn't compete” he added.
West Virginia was in a position to bend however not break defensively on the Purple Raiders' first two drives. TTU drove into the WVU purple zone on these drives, however solely received subject targets on them.
A career-long 52-yard subject purpose from Michael Hayes saved WVU within the hunt at that time because the Mountaineers trailed simply 6-Three after the primary quarter. Nevertheless, after Texas Tech scored its first landing with 10:32 left within the second quarter, the touchdowns saved coming.
The Purple Raiders scored 29 factors within the second quarter. Three of the 4 touchdowns in that quarter have been runs by Tahj Brooks of two, 37 and a pair of yards, however quarterback Behren Morton was the engine of the offense. He completed the primary half with 242 yards and a landing on 20-of-28 passing and a 1-yard landing to Mason Tharp.
Texas Tech scored three touchdowns within the remaining 5 minutes of the primary half. He then opened the second half with a nine-play, 75-yard landing drive, with Morton hitting Caleb Douglas for a 31-yard landing that made it 42-Three.
After a stable sport in opposition to UCF, the WVU protection fell again into previous unhealthy habits. The numbers informed the identical story as they’ve for many of the season. One of many worst cross defenses within the nation gave up 359 yards via the air and 12.Eight yards per completion to Texas Tech. One of many nation's worst defenses in opposing third-down conversions allowed the Purple Raiders to transform 9 of 12. The Mountaineers recorded a uncommon interception however couldn't give you a sack.
And whereas West Virginia has been efficient in opposition to the run for a lot of this season, Brooks has shredded the Mountaineers for 188 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. The 569 yards and 52 factors have been essentially the most WVU allowed since giving up 644 yards and 59 factors to Oklahoma final season.
“That is only a unhealthy matchup,” Brown mentioned. “I can get up right here and discuss it for some time. They took us into house. I've additionally had extra accidents within the sport…that's not an excuse, it's simply the reality. We had a few accidents early within the second quarter and so they're simply higher than us in house. I missed loads of tackles.”
In the meantime, the Mountaineers had a possibility in opposition to a Texas Tech protection that has been statistically worse than theirs this yr. Nevertheless, they might not take benefit. Quarterback Garrett Greene threw for 265 yards and a landing, but additionally threw two interceptions. He additionally failed to attach on a fourth-and-5 cross to Hudson Clement, throwing it barely behind Clement, the receiver unable to wrap it round.
WVU went 9 of 16 on third down and simply 1 of three on fourth down and in addition gave up 4 sacks. Jahiem White rushed for 124 yards and a landing on 14 carries, however the Mountaineers made a nasty protection look higher.
“They’d good solutions for us on third down with loads of stress appears that we didn't get the O-line to slip the appropriate approach,” Greene mentioned.
Texas Tech entered Saturday's sport giving up 36.Three factors per sport. WVU couldn't rating half of that, and Brown mentioned the workforce knew it needed to rating to compete.
“We have been below no illusions that this sport could be gained within the 20s,” Brown mentioned. “We weren't prepared for this job offensively. We knew we had to enter the highest 30, backside 40 to win. I simply didn't try this.”
Now the Mountaineers sit and await the upcoming postseason. They’ll discover out the place their vacation spot shall be on December Eight. Brown mentioned the workforce will want a while to relaxation earlier than getting again to work and attempting to finish the season with a win.
“The constructive is that this won’t be the top” Brown mentioned. “Now we have one other sport. We will all the time end effectively in a bowl sport. Our guys shall be again.”