Texas Tech defensive end Casey Eldridge (6) celebrates sacking Houston quarterback Clayton Tune (3) Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Any game that goes to double overtime will have its share of score changes. That was the case in the Texas Tech football team’s 33-30 win over Houston on Saturday.
Perhaps the biggest turning point was a Red Raiders 4th and 20 in the first overtime. That connection between Donovan Smith and wide receiver Jerand Bradley helped keep the game going with an improbable attitude. In fact, at that point in the game, Houston had a 99% chance of winning according to ESPN.com.
Of course, we wouldn’t be in overtime without Trey Wolfe’s kicking heroics. The 47-yard field goal was as clutch as anyone could hit in the final seconds of regulation.
Speaking of the kicking game, Houston should still be sore from their heavy penalties in the first half. Tech’s Austin McNamara hit and gave Tech another set of downs in the game, which also broke up a punt return TD by Houston Tank Dale.
It was a wild game at Jones Stadium and one that will hardly be forgotten. So let’s wrap up our analysis with a look at five hidden moments that helped turn this contest into a Texas Tech win.
Tune sack of Cosey Eldridge on 3rd down to FG
We start with 17-10 Tech and 3:14 left in the third quarter. After a Donovan Smith interception, Houston returned the ball to its own 42, starting a drive at Tech’s 43, Red Raider offensive tackle Monroe Mills was gifted 15 more yards, hitting the intercepted ball carrier out of bounds. In other words, Houston was in business.
Eight plays later, the Cougar offense finds itself facing a 3rd-and-4 at the Tech 15. At this point, it was almost certain that the Cougars were going to come up with points on this drive.
However, on a third-down play, two crucial things happened. First, Houston QB Clayton Tunney had a massive concussion and second, Tech linebacker Cosy Eldridge had a big game.
Tune took the snap and immediately flashed Eldridge out of the pocket, who was suspended for the game. Instead of just throwing the ball where Tun’s head jam occurred, he continued to drop back (he was already out of the pocket, so if he had thrown the ball past the line of scrimmage to Tech’s sideline, it would not have been flagged for an intentional grounding).
As it turns out, Tun simply eats the ball and takes a big sack. The play was lost 15 yards, pushing Houston to the Tech 30.
That meant instead of attempting a 32-yard field goal, Houston kicker Bubba Bassa had to kick one from 47 yards, a much more difficult task. If so, the long field goal would be missed and Houston would score no points on a drive that started at Tech State and reached the Red Raider 15.
Of course, in every overtime game, the points left on the scoreboard are huge and this missed FG. And produced by Eldridge Sack and Thune Mental Disorder.
