Live recap from Texas Tech's late surge and goal-line stop to escape the Big 12 Conference opener with a 28-26 win over Houston.
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Texas Tech overcame a slow start and double-digit deficit in the first quarter to defeat Houston 28-26 in front of a sold-out Galaxy Stadium to open Big 12 Conference play Friday night.
Linebacker Austin Romaine and the No. 13-ranked Red Raiders tackled Cougars quarterback Conner Weigman short of the goal line on a game-tying 2-point conversion attempt with less than a minute remaining.
Texas Tech, playing in its first Friday night home game since 1941, took and extended its lead in the second half with touchdowns by running backs J'Koby Williams and Cam Dickey - two of the three Red Raiders to score on the ground. Backup quarterback Thomas Castellanos, who was intercepted on Tech’s first play from scrimmage, later rushed for a touchdown.
Quarterback Will Hammond added a score through the air to wide receiver Kenny Johnson, who hauled in four catches for 113 yards (28 yards per reception). Hammond completed 17 of 27 passes for 257 yards. His 15.7 yards per completion were a season-high, living up to Texas Tech's pledge of having more offensive aggressiveness in store for the conference opener.
The win improves Texas Tech to 3-0 on the season and 1-0 in Big 12 play. It is the 10th straight home win for the Red Raiders, dating back to their conference title-winning season a year ago.
Houston married the run and pass games to the tune of 458 yards. The Cougars (176 yards rushing) failed to surpass 200 yards on the ground for the first time in six games.
FULL PREVIEW: TTU v. HOU - How to Watch, Betting Odds & More
Live Updates - No. 13 Texas Tech vs. No. 22 Houston
10:30 p.m. - FINAL - Texas Tech 28, Houston 26
10:22 p.m. - The Cougars' offense responded in crunch time with a strong drive, capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Weigman to tight end Patrick Overmyer.
Needing a 2-point conversion to tie, Weigman's extension was tackled short of the goal line as the Red Raiders held on to their 28-26 lead with 0:49 remaining.
10:09 p.m. - Texas Tech punts it back after milking over three and a half minutes of game time after Houston's short drive. Cougars get it at their own 12-yard line with 2:46 remaining and all their timeouts.
10:00 p.m. - Weigman was incomplete on a handful of throws. Houston punted to Texas Tech with 6:43 to go in the 4th quarter. Red Raiders in front by eight.
9:53 p.m. - Hammond completed multiple long throws to move the Red Raiders into enemy territory. The Red Raiders also used a 15-yard penalty on the defense to move into the red zone. Running back Cam Dickey bulldozed through tackles down to the 2-yard line before eventually powering in on a direct snap touchdown run. Texas Tech extended its lead to 28-20 with 7:36 to go.
9:39 p.m. - A sack on third down by A.J. Holmes Jr. forces Houston to punt. Texas Tech looking to add to it's slim lead with over 13 minutes to go in the ballgame.
9:33 p.m. - End of the Third Quarter - Texas Tech 21, Houston 20
The over 60,000 fans in attendance were treated to a drone show above the south end zone, in which the first design was a nod to the student section, named "The Jones at Galaxy Stadium."
9:28 p.m. - Hammond connected with Johnson for a gain of 23 yards, but a 4th-down pass over the middle was blown up by the Cougars' defense. Houston takes over trailing 21-20 from their own 30-yard line. Just 1:16 remaining in the third quarter.
9:19 p.m. - Houston marched over 70 yards on their first double-digit-play drive since the first quarter. The Cougars committed a false start on 4th-and-2, which forced them into kicking formation. The kick from Jonathan Dimas was good from 27 yards, bringing the visitors to within one at 21-20, Texas Tech.
9:05 p.m. - Texas Tech found the end zone on a five-play, 75-yard drive to begin the second half. The Red Raiders retook the lead 21-17 on a 29-yard rushing touchdown by J'Koby Williams.
8:40 p.m. - HALFTIME - Houston 17, Texas Tech 14
8:36 p.m. - Hammond is intercepted by Houston cornerback Jalen Mayo, who reaches out with one hand for the turnover with 44 seconds remaining in the first half. Another pass from Texas Tech that didn't seem close to its intended receiver. Missed opportunity for the Red Raiders to tie or retake the lead before receiving first in the second half.
8:32 p.m. - After using a third-down offsides penalty for an easier conversion, Weigman placed a ball into the bucket for wide receiver Koby Young at the goal line. The Houston touchdown puts the Cougars ahead 17-14 with 1:11 to go until halftime.
8:23 p.m. - Castellanos reenters and rushes in for a Texas Tech touchdown. Red Raiders take the lead 14-10 with 3:39 to go until halftime.
The Florida State transfer QB has three rushing touchdowns on the season (four total).
8:18 p.m. - Houston ended Tech's streak of home games allowing less than 100 yards rushing, but the drive ends in a punt. Red Raiders offense begins to move through the air with a long connection to Carter, and a pass intended for Micah Hudson drawing a 15-yard pass interference penalty on the Cougars' defense.
8:10 p.m. - Hammond is sacked on third down, and Texas Tech punts for the first time. Despite an excellent bounce and five black jerseys surrounding the ball, it trickles its way into the end zone for a Houston touchback.
8:02 p.m. - Texas Tech defensive end Adam Trick sacked Houston QB Conner Weigman, who fumbled. The Red Raiders recovered the ball at their own 35-yard line for the game's second turnover. A strong defensive possession there, despite the Cougars' ability to pick up yards on the ground.
7:53 p.m. - Touchdown Red Raiders. Hammond threads the needle to Johnson on a 35-yard touchdown pass. Texas Tech is on the board in the second quarter, trailing 10-7.
7:47 p.m. - End of First Quarter: Houston leads 10-0. Hammond moves the chains on a 28-yard completion to Kenny Johnson, who came back to the ball and managed to stay in bounds. Texas Tech had just 30 yards of offense to Houston's 125 in the opening period.
7:43 p.m. - Texas Tech's defense gets off the field for the first time. Houston punts and the Red Raiders take over from their own 25-yard line thanks to a fortuitous bounce with 1:22 remaining in the first quarter.
7:35 p.m. - The Red Raiders go three-and-out as Will Hammond's seam pass that would have been a first down (and more) was dropped by tight end Terrance Carter Jr.
Carter is making his return from missing Texas Tech's Week 2 game last week with a foot injury.
7:30 p.m. - Houston turns the early Tech turnover into points. Weigman's pass to dynamic receiver Amare Thomas was reviewed and ruled a touchdown from 11 yards out. Cougars jump in front 10-0 early.
7:19 p.m. - Texas Tech turns it over on the Red Raiders' first play from scrimmage. Backup quarterback Thomas Castellanos got the first snap, rolled right, and threw an uncontested interception, which was toe-tapped on the sideline by Houston cornerback Will James.
7:14 p.m. - As expected, the Cougars heavily featured the run in their opening possession, but a 21-yard pass out to running back Makhi Hughes was what got Houston into the red zone. Houston got on the board first with a 31-yard field goal. Cougars lead 3-0.
7:00 p.m. - Texas Tech wins the toss and defers to the second half. Houston gets the ball first.
6:00 p.m. - One hour before kickoff, Texas Tech tight end Terrance Carter Jr. and defensive end Trey White are announced in the starting lineup. Carter (foot) missed the Oregon State game, while White (knee) is returning from injury to make his Red Raiders debut.
