Donovan Smith had to work some magic late in Texas Tech’s 33-30 double overtime win over Houston on Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium.
He scored the game-winning 9-yard touchdown in the second quarter late in the second overtime, and helped the Red Raiders overcome a 27-20 deficit in the final minute of regulation and on the first fourth-and-20 situation of overtime, throwing a 21-yard pass to Jeron Bradley.
But the Red Raiders defense had to step up or Tech wouldn’t have gotten those chances. In the first three quarters, Tech thwarted Houston’s deep drives into Red Raiders territory.
“We’re going to play the West Texas defense,” Tech coach Joey McGuire said.
The Cougars reached the Tech 7-yard line early in the second quarter but had to settle for a field goal.
The key play in the sequence came when UH quarterback Clayton Tune threw a touchdown pass to Nathaniel Dale in the middle of the end zone, but safety Darrion Taylor-Demerson knocked the ball out of the receiver’s hands at the end.
Tech also had a turnover after Houston got to the Tech 31 before halftime and forced them to settle for a field goal late in the third quarter when they pushed it to the Tech 15. Before the field goal, Tech linebacker Cosey Eldridge found an unhindered run by Tunney and didn’t miss, wrapping up a 15-yard sack.
A difficult day ahead
Tech’s offensive line got all it needed from Houston, who had 100 losses last season with 44 sacks. Houston sacked Tech quarterback Donovan Smith five times, four by defensive end Derrick Parish, and 13 tackles for loss.
“We have to fix it,” McGuire said. “And we knew (Houston) had 44 sacks on defense last year, and three of those guys were on that defense: (Parish and linebackers Nelson Kizer and D’Anthony Jones). We’ll definitely prepare to play against (North Carolina State next week). It’s great up front. They’re 10 back on defense, and so there’s some things we can improve on.
The Cougars allowed just 2.7 yards per carry on 117 carries.
In addition to the line’s struggles, Tech left guard Weston Wright left the game in the second half with a left ankle injury. Wright is a veteran offensive lineman for the Red Raiders with 33 career starts.
Senior backup Jacoby Jackson was already in the game when Wright was injured. Rookie Landon Peterson stepped in again at right guard, and Jackson moved from right guard to left guard.
McGuire says it’s an ankle injury – McGuire has no expectations other than a minor injury and it’s not a high-ankle injury that could be called for more recovery time.
An early turning point
Nathaniel Dell, Houston’s first-team all-conference receiver last season, returned a punt 55 yards in the first quarter. However, the officials referred Cougar linebacker Manny Nunnery to tight end Austin McNamara.
The personal offense automatic was good for a first down. The Cougars’ defensive line, which was dominating Tech’s offensive line at the time, recorded a tackle for a loss, a sack and a fumble on the next three plays, but Cougars cornerback Alex Hogan was flagged for an unnecessary roughness, giving the Red Raiders another automatic first down.
Hogan, a former Tech cornerback who transferred to UH, shoved receiver Nehemiah Martinez after the game.
Dell returned a punt 34 yards in the first half and Clayton Tune hit a 63-yard pass on the first play of the second half to tie the game.
Quick shots
Starting cornerback Adrian Frye, struggling with a strained quadriceps in the season opener, was limited to special teams. Malik Dunlap took over on defense.
Dunlap was credited with two tackles and two pass breakups in the second overtime, including a fumble and a pass into the end zone. That forced Houston to punt for a field goal. …
Former Tech running backs Tyron Thurman and the recently retired Danny Amendola were in attendance at Jones AT&T Stadium. Thurman was in town Friday night to reunite players and coaches from the Spike Dykes era. …
Freshman receiver Koy Eakin (pulled groin muscle) is out for the second game in a row. Offensive guard Michael Shanahan and wide receiver Chadarius Townsend were among the others left out. …
Defensive end depth was thin for Tech in the season opener, but the Red Raiders get back Bryce Ramirez, Joseph Addiere and Robert Wooten. No match for the first game. …
Trey Wolf’s 25-yard field goal and 47-yarder with three seconds left in the first quarter were his first at TCU since Nov. 7, 2020. Wolff was 22 in 2019 and lost his job after making just one of the first five in 2020. Jonathan Garibay made all of the team’s field-goal attempts last season. …
