D
Derek Young
Guest
TRADING TOUCHDOWNS
Kansas State struggled to take the handle of the game after a few opportunities on Saturday evening in Lubbock. It seemed like each time they found the end zone to take a 10-point lead, Texas Tech responded immediately with a score of their own.
After scoring a touchdown for the first time all game and jumping out front 13-3, the Red Raiders bounced right back to make it 13-10. They would do so while converting on third down two times during the drive. After Joshua Youngblood took the kickoff back for a score, Matt Wells’ bunch used a short field after the penalty to answer yet again, making the score 20-17.
Even after a Blake Lynch field goal that put K-State on top 23-17, Texas Tech retaliated with a field goal as well, even converting on a third down and nine with a Jett Duffey scramble where he escaped pressure and broke multiple tackles.
RED ZONE TD PERCENTAGE
Offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham said at his press conference on Thursday before they traveled to Lubbock that they were preaching touchdowns. That is something that he felt hurt the team’s chances in the two prior weeks. It is understandable. For a team like the Wildcats, who like to shrink the game and limit possessions, it is even more important to find the end zone.
Though it didn’t prevent them from claiming a victory in west Texas, it wasn’t necessarily any better on Saturday night. On four trips to the red zone, Kansas State only scored one touchdown. Fortunately, they did record two touchdowns without reaching the end zone and that was the touchdown pass to Chabastin Taylor, and the kickoff returned for a touchdown by Joshua Youngblood.
SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS
The Wildcats would have had their share of plays that they would have regretted had they came out on the losing side of the contest in Lubbock. Two that immediately come to mind are the touchdowns that slipped away and the empty possessions. There was a throw to Wykeen Gill in the second half that should have resulted in a score, but it was over-thrown by Skylar Thompson. Furthermore, Skylar threw a strike to Wykeen Gill for a touchdown at the end of the first half that should have had a scoring outcome as well and it did not. That’s two touchdowns that Messingham called, but the lack of execution on the field failed them.
Another issue that comes to mind is the gaffe by Kevion McGee on Texas Tech’s second attempt at a fake punt that kept the Red Raiders alive late in the game. It turned out to not be detrimental since Denzel Goolsby forced a turnover on the next play of the game. Youngblood’s penalty wasn’t a disaster, but it did ignite Texas Tech to score on the following drive.
KEY PLAYS
Head coach Chris Klieman will tell you every week that this game is about making plays. Because they came out on the winning end, we have a few to share and discuss and they are the team that made enough to grab the victory.
Most of these plays have already been mentioned.
Denzel Goolsby’s interception thwarted a Red Raider drive just after they made the huge play on special teams. Wyatt Hubert delivered a huge sack on third and long in the fourth quarter that stopped Texas Tech at midfield when they were marching down the field looking to take the lead.
Texas Tech dropping a touchdown in the fourth quarter that would have given them a one-point lead, and instead having to kick a field goal to cut the deficit to three was a critical moment. Thompson had two huge fourth quarter plays as well. His run on the final drive of the game sealed the deal on third down when he ran for the first. The touchdown to Chabastin Taylor was a great throw and was one of the final blows to Matt Wells’ club.
I told Matt Hall about 20 seconds before it happened, but I said that the Wildcats had to have a big special teams play in the tight games that they’ve won like this. Youngblood then immediately took the kickoff back for a touchdown.
BONUS: INJURY REPORT
There was a lot in this game so I wanted to catch everyone up.
Da'Quan Patton left the game but did return. Dalton Schoen was dinged up but did return. Phillip Brooks left the game with an injury but only returned on special teams. Drew Wiley and Cody Fletcher returned after leaving the game with injuries. Daniel Green returned quickly after being sidelined as well.
Walter Neil and Malik Knowles didn't return after their injuries.
Kansas State struggled to take the handle of the game after a few opportunities on Saturday evening in Lubbock. It seemed like each time they found the end zone to take a 10-point lead, Texas Tech responded immediately with a score of their own.
After scoring a touchdown for the first time all game and jumping out front 13-3, the Red Raiders bounced right back to make it 13-10. They would do so while converting on third down two times during the drive. After Joshua Youngblood took the kickoff back for a score, Matt Wells’ bunch used a short field after the penalty to answer yet again, making the score 20-17.
Even after a Blake Lynch field goal that put K-State on top 23-17, Texas Tech retaliated with a field goal as well, even converting on a third down and nine with a Jett Duffey scramble where he escaped pressure and broke multiple tackles.
RED ZONE TD PERCENTAGE
Offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham said at his press conference on Thursday before they traveled to Lubbock that they were preaching touchdowns. That is something that he felt hurt the team’s chances in the two prior weeks. It is understandable. For a team like the Wildcats, who like to shrink the game and limit possessions, it is even more important to find the end zone.
Though it didn’t prevent them from claiming a victory in west Texas, it wasn’t necessarily any better on Saturday night. On four trips to the red zone, Kansas State only scored one touchdown. Fortunately, they did record two touchdowns without reaching the end zone and that was the touchdown pass to Chabastin Taylor, and the kickoff returned for a touchdown by Joshua Youngblood.
SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS
The Wildcats would have had their share of plays that they would have regretted had they came out on the losing side of the contest in Lubbock. Two that immediately come to mind are the touchdowns that slipped away and the empty possessions. There was a throw to Wykeen Gill in the second half that should have resulted in a score, but it was over-thrown by Skylar Thompson. Furthermore, Skylar threw a strike to Wykeen Gill for a touchdown at the end of the first half that should have had a scoring outcome as well and it did not. That’s two touchdowns that Messingham called, but the lack of execution on the field failed them.
Another issue that comes to mind is the gaffe by Kevion McGee on Texas Tech’s second attempt at a fake punt that kept the Red Raiders alive late in the game. It turned out to not be detrimental since Denzel Goolsby forced a turnover on the next play of the game. Youngblood’s penalty wasn’t a disaster, but it did ignite Texas Tech to score on the following drive.
KEY PLAYS
Head coach Chris Klieman will tell you every week that this game is about making plays. Because they came out on the winning end, we have a few to share and discuss and they are the team that made enough to grab the victory.
Most of these plays have already been mentioned.
Denzel Goolsby’s interception thwarted a Red Raider drive just after they made the huge play on special teams. Wyatt Hubert delivered a huge sack on third and long in the fourth quarter that stopped Texas Tech at midfield when they were marching down the field looking to take the lead.
Texas Tech dropping a touchdown in the fourth quarter that would have given them a one-point lead, and instead having to kick a field goal to cut the deficit to three was a critical moment. Thompson had two huge fourth quarter plays as well. His run on the final drive of the game sealed the deal on third down when he ran for the first. The touchdown to Chabastin Taylor was a great throw and was one of the final blows to Matt Wells’ club.
I told Matt Hall about 20 seconds before it happened, but I said that the Wildcats had to have a big special teams play in the tight games that they’ve won like this. Youngblood then immediately took the kickoff back for a touchdown.
BONUS: INJURY REPORT
There was a lot in this game so I wanted to catch everyone up.
Da'Quan Patton left the game but did return. Dalton Schoen was dinged up but did return. Phillip Brooks left the game with an injury but only returned on special teams. Drew Wiley and Cody Fletcher returned after leaving the game with injuries. Daniel Green returned quickly after being sidelined as well.
Walter Neil and Malik Knowles didn't return after their injuries.
