No. 7 BYU falls to No. 8 Texas Tech, 29-7

LUBBOCK, Texas – No. 7 BYU struggled to find momentum against No. 8 Texas Tech, falling 29-7 on Saturday afternoon at Jones AT&T Stadium, dropping the Cougars to 8-1 this season and 5-1 in Big 12 Conference play.

In the matchup, BYU recorded 255 yards to Texas Tech’s 368. Bear Bachmeier notched 188 passing yards with a completion rate of 61. The Red Raider defense held the Cougars to 67 rushing yards, with LJ Martin leading the way with 35.

Led by Jack Kelly’s two, the Cougar defense totaled four sacks, all of which were in the first half. This marks the second-straight game with four sacks and the first time all season Texas Tech had given up four in a game. 

After trailing 26-0 in the beginning of the fourth, Bachmeier hit Chase Roberts on a six-yard touchdown pass to put some points on the board. The touchdown marked Roberts’ 17th of his career. The senior led the receiver room with six catches for 61 yards.

Linebacker Isaiah Glasker led the defense in tackles with 10. Additionally, the junior linebacker had one sack and two tackles for loss.

The Cougars had three turnovers, but the defense was able to hold Texas Tech to six points off them.

First Quarter
Texas Tech won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball in the second half. After a touchback, LJ Martin picked up a 12-yard rush on second-and-10, but the Red Raider defense then held BYU to two short gains and an incompletion, forcing fourth-and-six.

A Sam Vander Haar punt went out of bounds, giving Texas Tech the ball at the Cougar 40. On their first snap, the Red Raiders were called for a false start, making it first-and-15. After a two-yard rush, Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton threw an incomplete pass, bringing up third-and-13. Siale Esera rushed Morton and sacked him for a loss of 14 yards, forcing the Red Raiders to bring out their punting unit.

On the punt, Parker Kingston fumbled the ball on the catch at the Cougar 18 and Texas Tech recovered to bring its offense back out at BYU’s 17-yard line. The defense held the Red Raiders to an incomplete pass and a two-yard gain, which forced third-and-eight at the BYU 15. On the play, Jack Kelly recorded his sixth sack of the year, downing Morton for a loss of 14. On fourth-and-22, from 47 yards, the Red Raiders made a field goal, putting themselves ahead, 3-0, with 10:08 left in the first frame.

BYU’s offense returned to the field, starting at its own 25-yard line. Preston Rex and Martin recorded two quick rushes to get the first down. Martin and Bear Bachmeier added two more runs to bring up third-and-six, where Bachmeier got the first down on a five-yard run to move the ball to the Cougar 47. After a false start penalty on BYU, Texas Tech’s defense held BYU to only six yards after that point to force Vander Haar and the punting crew back out with 5:20 on the clock.

Morton and Red Raider running back Cameron Dickey led a 12-play, 92-yard touchdown drive. Two-straight six-yard runs earned Texas Tech a first down at its own 20. The pair combined for a nine-yard pass and two-yard run to grab another first down before Dickey added five more yards. Logan Lutui tackled Morton for a loss of one, setting up third-and-six. On the next play, Morton hit Coy Eakin for a 37-yard completion to the BYU 28. Dickey followed with two runs for nine yards and converted on a five-yard carry. He added another 5-yard rush before Morton found Caleb Douglas in the end zone to extend the Red Raiders’ lead to 10-0 with 19 seconds left in the first quarter.

After a touchback and a two-yard Martin run, first quarter time would expire.

Second Quarter
On second-and-eight, Bachmeier hit Chase Roberts for 14 yards to earn a first down. After Bachmeier and Martin worked together to bring up third-and-five, Bachmeier connected with Carsen Ryan at the 50-yard line, who then carried it to Texas Tech’s 39. Kingston and Martin collectively gained seven yards, which brought up third-and-three. Martin was unable to get the first down, resulting in a fourth-and-four and setting up Will Ferrin for a 51-yard field goal. Ferrin’s kick went wide left, keeping the Red Raider advantage at 10 with 10:33 left in the half.

Starting at its own 33, Texas Tech earned 43 yards courtesy of running back J’Koby Williams. BYU’s defense held the Red Raiders to a one-yard gain and an incomplete pass, but on third-and-nine from the BYU 23, Morton hit Terrance Carter Jr. for the first down. Another short gain and two-straight incompletions held Texas Tech to a 27-yard field goal. The kick was good, which advanced the Red Raider lead to 13-0.

On the kickoff, Cody Hagen returned the ball to the BYU 15. A three-yard run by Martin, a five-yard Bachmeier to Roberts completion and a one-yard Bachmeier keeper brought up fourth-and-one, and the offense stayed on the field. From the Cougar 24, Bachmeier stayed at keeper and rushed two yards, earning the first down. Bachmeier then hit Jojo Phillips to advance the ball six yards. The Cougar offense was unable to get another first down on third-and-four which forced a BYU punt with 3:51 on the clock.

Powered by Kelly, BYU’s defense held Texas Tech to a three-and-out, including a 9-yard loss on second-and-10 when Kelly dropped Morton.

The Red Raider defense forced the Cougars to a three-and-out, giving Morton’s offense the ball with 1:40 left. Isaiah Glasker sacked Morton for a nine-yard loss, but the senior quarterback rebounded with a 19-yard pass to Carter Jr., setting up third-and-one. Dickey rushed 11 yards into BYU territory, then Morton fired a 39-yard pass to the six. On first-and-goal, Keanu Tanuvasa and Viliami Po’uha stuffed Dickey. Morton’s second-down pass to Carter Jr. was dropped, and a two-yard play set up fourth-and-two. Once again, Morton tried to hit Carter Jr., but his pass was broken up by Raider Damuni, closing the half at 13-0, Texas Tech.

Third Quarter
After a touchback, the Red Raider offense started at their own 25. The Cougars held Texas Tech to a four-yard rush, two-yard pass and an incompletion to force another three-and-out.

On first-and-10 from their own 16, Rex rushed one yard and then Bachmeier hit Roberts for a gain of 14 to move the chains. Following a one-yard gain and a one-yard setback, Bachmeier went deep to Roberts, but he was unable to make the catch, which forced a Cougar punt.

Vander Haar punted 69 yards for a touchback, pinning the Red Raiders at their 20. The defense forced third-and-six, but a 25-yard pickup moved the chains. On second-and-six, Dickey added 11 yards to the BYU 36. A short pass and an incompletion brought up third-and-six, but the Red Raiders were able to convert off an eight-yard pass to Carter Jr. Two short gains and an incompletion made Texas Tech settle for a field goal, which advanced their lead to 16-0 with seven minutes left.

Hagen put the offense at their own 21. After an incomplete pass and a four-yard gain, Bachmeier’s pass was intercepted by Jacob Rodriguez and it was rushed eight yards back to the BYU 22.

A three-yard rush and seven-yard completion earned the Red Raiders the first down at the BYU 12. The defense then forced third-and-nine, where Kelly broke up Morton’s pass to force a field goal. The kick was good, pushing Texas Tech’s lead to 19-0 with 3:40 left in the quarter.

After a touchback, a holding penalty on BYU was called, bringing up a first-and-20. Bachmeier passed to Martin in back-to-back plays, each of which earned six yards to bring up third-and-eight. The freshman quarterback hit Hagen for a gain of 17. The Red Raiders held BYU to an incomplete pass and two short gains which brought up fourth-and-seven before third quarter time expired.

Fourth Quarter
Morton and Dickey powered a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. Dickey opened the quarter with a 33-yard rush to the BYU 47. After a pair of penalties pushed the Red Raiders back, Morton hit Dickey for 24 yards. Dickey added an 11-yard run to move the chains again. The defense brought up a third-and-one, but Williams found seven yards to put the Red Raiders at the three-yard line. An illegal substitution on the Cougars pushed Texas Tech up to the one-yard line, where Dickey rushed into the end zone, and with the extra point, extended its lead to 26-0 with 10:46 left.

Bachmeier and the Cougars took the field at their 25. A five-yard pass to Ryan brought up second-and-five, where Bachmeier hit Roberts for 12 yards. Bachmeier and Kingston then paired on three consecutive plays, totaling 41 yards to the Texas Tech 17. On second-and-10, Bachmeier passed to Martin, who carried the ball to the six. On first-and-goal, Roberts captured the ball in the end zone for his fifth touchdown of the season. The Cougars attempted a two-point conversion, but an offensive pass interference brought out Ferrin, who made the extra point, bringing the score to 26-7.

After BYU forced a three-and-out, two incompletions and a short gain brought up fourth-and-six for the Cougars. Bachmeier found Ryan, but his seven yards were not enough, giving the Red Raiders the ball at the BYU 41 with 5:14 left.

Dickey picked up three yards in back-to-back plays to set up third-and-four. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Texas Tech pushed them back to third-and-19. A gain of four forced the Red Raiders to punt with 4:49 on the clock.

On second-and-six at the BYU 24, Bachmeier was sacked for a loss of five, but threw a backwards pass, and the fumble was recovered by Rodriguez at the BYU 19.

A false start was called on Texas Tech, which set up first-and-15. A short run and two-straight three-yard passes brought up fourth-and-seven at the Cougar 16. The field goal crew came out, and the kick was good, extending Texas Tech’s lead to 29-7 with 2:37 left.

On second-and-10 from the BYU 25, Bachmeier shot downfield to Phillips, where a defensive pass interference penalty was called, pushing the Cougars 15 yards deeper. Bachmeier hit Roberts on a gain of 10 to move the chains. Back-to-back incompletions brought up third-and-10, where Ryan made a 5-yard catch. BYU went for it on fourth down from the Texas Tech 45, but Bachmeier’s pass to Hagen fell incomplete, resulting in a turnover on downs with 1:23 to play.

Texas Tech knelt it down twice, closing the game in a 29-7 loss.

Up Next
BYU returns to LaVell Edwards Stadium for a matchup against the TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 8:15 p.m. MST. Watch broadcast live on ESPN or listen to live play-by-play with Greg Wrubell on BYU Radio.