No. 14 Texas Tech will look to bounce back from its first setback of the season when it meets Oklahoma State in Big 12 action Saturday afternoon in Lubbock, Texas.
The Red Raiders (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) want to establish the running game after gaining 109 yards on 27 carries in a 26-22 loss at Arizona State last weekend. Backup quarterback Will Hammond completed 22 of 37 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns, with an interception.
Starting quarterback Behren Morton missed the game vs. Arizona State, and Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said the senior signal-caller is day-to-day. Behren has been testing his leg injury by running in the pool.
“We didn’t run the football enough,” McGuire said. “We need to be more effective. I think a little bit, too, was when they started stretching the lead we wanted to create some explosive plays and grab some momentum. It’s something (running the ball) that if we could go back on, we wish we did.”
Because they struggled to run for yards on first down, the Red Raiders repeatedly faced long distances to gain on second and third downs. They were outgained 394-276 in total yards, and the Sun Devils also held a 37:12 to 22:48 advantage in time of possession.
“We have to be a lot better on first down,” McGuire said. “That was one of the big takeaways after watching the film.”
Even as the Cowboys (1-6, 0-4) are still in search of their first Big 12 win in a campaign that saw Mike Gundy fired as head coach on Sept. 23, interim coach Doug Meacham said the team’s spirits remain high.
Then-No. 24 Cincinnati beat Oklahoma State 49-17 last week in Stillwater, Okla., the sixth straight loss for the Cowboys. Sam Jackson V was 11-of-19 passing for 149 yards and an interception, while Rodney Fields Jr. rushed for 163 yards on 21 carries with a touchdown.
“The want to, the energy and the enthusiasm of the players is phenomenal,” Meacham said. “The game plan was a solid game plan. I think, unfortunately, the only thing that truly matters is what’s on the scoreboard. But in terms of everything else, it was a win.”
While Jackson has spent the last two seasons as a receiver, he stepped in under center against Houston on Oct. 11. He entered college as a quarterback before switching to receiver. Meacham said it’s possible Oklahoma State could also use Zane Flores at QB.
“He made some great ‘wow’ plays,” Meacham said about Jackson. “And is really good with his legs. There’s not a whole lot of guys in the country that can do what he’s done. Coming in as a receiver the last two years and moving to quarterback.”
Despite the Cowboys trailing 28-10 at halftime, Meacham said the team stayed positive that it could play its way back into the game.
“There was never a point in the game until the end, maybe, where we didn’t feel like we could pull it off,” he said. “It was fun to see. Every possible way you could gauge a win, we did, except for the points. That’s the next thing we are looking for.”
