Texas Tech and Sam Houston combined to throw six interceptions and fumble the ball four times in the Red Raiders' win over the Bearkats.
LUBBOCK — Interceptions were how No. 11 Texas Tech stayed in the game and how the Red Raiders nearly cost themselves being upset in Saturday's nonconference finale.
Will Hammond was intercepted three times in a first half where Texas Tech scored just one offensive touchdown but led 21-14. Two of the three first-half scores came on back-to-back interceptions returned for touchdowns by linebacker Austin Romaine.
Much has been made about the Red Raiders' offense through the first three weeks of the season, and Week 4 was thought to be an opportunity for the Red Raiders to silence the critics as they faced Sam Houston, who is just 1-2 and in its fourth season as an FBS program.
An offensive showing anywhere near the level of last week's ranked win over Houston would have been enough to coast past the Bearkats at a sunny, white-out Galaxy Stadium.
Instead, the Red Raiders made things harder than they needed to be before rolling in the second half to a 49-14 win.
Hammond's turnovers came on consecutive drives in the second quarter that flipped momentum, but not the scoreboard.
First, Hammond was picked off in the end zone as Texas Tech (4-0) worked its way into the red area. The defense answered by forcing a three-and-out.
Second, Tech was backed up after a long punt, and Hammond's pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage. The Bearkats turned the takeaway into their second touchdown two plays later.
The Red Raiders forced a three-and-out again after Hammond's third interception, but the half ended before Tech could add to its one-score lead.
Later on, Hammond nearly committed a fourth turnover on a misread on third down. A Sam Houston linebacker blatantly dropped an interception over the middle.
In addition to Hammond's inaccuracy, the Red Raiders fumbled three times in the first half, twice on punt returns and once on Texas Tech's first third-down conversion, which didn't come until the second quarter.
"We are our own worst enemy right now," head coach Joey McGuire said during his passionate halftime radio segment. "And it's my fault. It's all my fault."
The Red Raiders got a spark coming out of the locker room as running back J'Koby Williams returned the second-half kickoff 53 yards. That set up a 26-yard rushing touchdown by Cam Dickey. Tech found rhythm with its second drive of the half ending with Hammond connecting with Coy Eakin on a 21-yard touchdown pass.
But a fourth turnover came shortly after. Sam Houston (1-3) recovered Texas Tech's fourth fumble overall and the third in punt coverage. Once again, the Bearkats couldn't mount a sustainable effort after the takeaway.
Things figured themselves out for Texas Tech (largely because the run game was made a bigger priority), but against an under-matched opponent, the offense needed this result to come earlier and more convincingly.
Hammond completed 17 of 29 passes for 224 yards, adding a rushing touchdown to his one passing. The Red Raiders gained 470 yards from scrimmage as the run came accounted for 219 yards, many of which came late.
But down the line, this type of showing won’t be enough to eventually still finish with a blowout win - if getting to a win at all.
There were drops, interceptions and fumbles throughout. There was some questionable playcalling, as well, and overall, a sense of unease clouds the offense of the reigning conference champions, who now embark on the rest of Big 12 play with many more questions than answers when the ball is in their hands.
