Texas Tech Red Raiders at TCU Horned Frogs
· NCAA - FootballHoover throws 3 TDs as TCU rallies from 17-point deficit to beat Texas Tech 35-34
“Heck of a football game. We were fortunate to come out on the good end of it," TCU coach Sonny Dykes said. "It was not pretty.”
Texas Tech was driving to set up a potential game-winning field goal when true freshman quarterback Will Hammond fumbled at the TCU 27 on a third-down carry with 1:38 left. Hammond, who had taken over for injured starter Behren Morton, was trying to get a couple of extra yards in the middle of the field when he took a crushing hit from 320-pound nose tackle Hakeem Ajijolaiya.
Hammond was initially ruled down by contact before that was overturned on a replay review.
“On that play, you see the fumble. ... You’ve got to see definitive recovery,” Tech coach Joey McGuire said. “From our point of view, our tablets, everything like that, you couldn’t see a definitive recovery ... we felt like Will had the ball, and we’re going to the next play.”
Hoover completed 21 of 32 passes and overcame three turnovers of his own, a fumble when being sacked and two interceptions, as the Horned Frogs (5-3, 3-2 Big 12) won consecutive conference games for the first time since their undefeated 2022 regular season. He also threw an 8-yard TD to tight end DJ Rodgers in the fourth quarter, which was set up by a 52-yard pass to Jack Bech to the 14.
“We’re so darn streaky at times offensively,” Dykes said. “We just have to continue to get better.”
The Red Raiders (5-3, 3-2) were up 31-14 after Hammond threw a touchdown and ran for another one on the first two drives after halftime. Morton didn't return after injuring his left non-throwing shoulder. He was sacked on a third-down play with 36 seconds left in the first half.
X-rays were inconclusive, McGuire indicated afterward that it could be a collarbone injury. Morton was in a sling, and was going to be re-evaluated when the team got home.
TCU had a 14-3 lead in the first quarter after receiver Savion Williams took a direct snap for a 35-yard touchdown run and had a 75-yard catch-and-run for another score. The senior and former prep quarterback spun around a defender after crossing the line of scrimmage on the TD run, and came out of the backfield to catch Hoover’s pass near midfield before outracing defenders to the end zone.
Williams had 11 carries for 72 yards and caught three passes for 81 yards.
Big 12 rushing leader Tahj Brooks, who ran 30 times for 121 yards, place-kicker Reese Burkhardt and Hammond all had 4-yard TD runs for the Red Raiders. Burkhardt's run was a wide sweep on a fake field goal when punter holder Jack Burgess tossed the ball over his shoulder, and was set up by Harvey Dyson’s sack and fumble recovery.
TCU had 461 total yards and a nice comeback, but has been plagued by turnovers. The Horned Frogs have had 16 turnovers (eight fumbles, eight interceptions) that have led to 58 points for opponents in their last four games.
TCU travels about 100 miles down Interstate 35 to play at Baylor next Saturday night.
How To Watch
How can I watch Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. TCU Horned Frogs?
- TV Channel: Red Raiders at Horned Frogs 2021 College Football, week 9, is broadcasted on FOX.
- Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
Matchup Prediction
Scoring Summary
TD | 1st Period 10:48 | Savion Williams 35 Yd Run (Kyle Lemmermann Kick) | |
FG | 1st Period 1:45 | Gino Garcia 38 Yd Field Goal | |
TD | 1st Period 1:31 | Savion Williams 75 Yd pass from Josh Hoover (Kyle Lemmermann Kick) | |
TD | 2nd Period 13:09 | Reese Burkhardt 4 Yd Run (Reese Burkhardt Kick) | |
TD | 2nd Period 10:44 | Tahj Brooks 4 Yd Run (Gino Garcia Kick) | |
TD | 3rd Period 12:21 | Coy Eakin 13 Yd pass from Will Hammond (Reese Burkhardt Kick) | |
TD | 3rd Period 6:33 | Will Hammond 4 Yd Run (Gino Garcia Kick) | |
TD | 3rd Period 3:07 | Jeremy Payne 1 Yd Run (Kyle Lemmermann Kick) | |
FG | 4th Period 11:13 | Gino Garcia 24 Yd Field Goal | |
TD | 4th Period 8:42 | DJ Rogers 8 Yd pass from Josh Hoover (Kyle Lemmermann Kick) | |
TD | 4th Period 5:10 | Eric McAlister 84 Yd pass from Josh Hoover (Kyle Lemmermann Kick) |
Statistics
TTU | TCU | |
---|---|---|
25 | 1st Downs | 18 |
8-20 | 3rd down efficiency | 3-9 |
2-2 | 4th down efficiency | 0-1 |
438 | Total Yards | 461 |
258 | Passing | 344 |
23/38 | Comp/Att | 21/32 |
6.8 | Yards per pass | 10.8 |
180 | Rushing | 117 |
50 | Rushing Attempts | 27 |
3.6 | Yards per rush | 4.3 |
6-45 | Penalties | 5-40 |
2 | Turnovers | 3 |
2 | Fumbles lost | 1 |
0 | Interceptions thrown | 2 |
37:25 | Possession | 22:35 |
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