Red Raiders Fall Short Against Wildcats, Final-37-28: Live Game Updates
The Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-1) are still riding the wave of momentum that surged forth after their overtime victory over in-state rival Texas. Now they turn their focus to the Kansas State Wildcats (3-1), who will be the fourth straight ranked team the Raiders have faced in this season.
Kansas State lads the series with a record of 13-9, and has won the last six straight matchups. Tech has new blood at the helm though, with head coach Joey McGuire taking over this season. The Raiders will be looking to end that streak today.
The Wildcats are fresh off an upset victory over perennial juggernaut Oklahoma and have one of the most potent offenses in the conference. Led by quarterback Adrian Martinez and running back Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State can put up some big numbers in a hurry. Tech's defense has been strong so far, but this will be their toughest test yet.
For the Red Raiders, their offense is led by sophomore gunslinger Donovan Smith, who has burst onto the Big 12 scene this year. Smith's led this squad to two overtime victories over top 25 teams, so he's more than capable of winning on the big stage. Today's game will largely depend on the Red Raiders' offensive line, as they'll have to bock a formidable pass rush from K-State.
If McGuire and the Red Raiders can pull off a road win here over No. 25 Kansas State, they may just find themselves in the AP Poll on Sunday afternoon. This game has big implications for the conference picture and whoever wins will have set themselves up nicely to run the table on their way to the title game.
Live game updates will appear here following kickoff...
END FIRST QUARTER: Kansas State 13, Texas Tech 0
-Kickoff set for 11 a.m. (CT)
- Kansas State receives the opening kick and starts their drive on the Tech 25-yard line
- Wildcats QB Adrian Martinez rips off a 57-yard run to start the game, K-State is in the red zone already.
- Martinez breaks off an 18-yard TD run. K-State strikes first and it' Kansas State 7, Texas Tech 0
-Tech stalls on their first possession and punts from about the 50-yard line.
-K-State's offense is charging downfield again. Wildcats RB Deuce Vaughn runs for 18 yards and puts the Cats in the red zone again. Tech takes their first timeout (Q1 8:00).
- Kansas State drives over 70 yards but gets stopped on third-and-goal. The Wildcats hit the 29-yard FG to make it a 10-point led. Kanas State 10, Texas Tech 0 (Q1 4:57).
- After Tech gets stopped going for it on fourth down, Kansas State drives it back inside the 10-yrd line, but Tech's defense holds strong and the Wildcats only get a FG. It's Kansas State 13, Texas Tech 0 (Q1 0:30).
END SECOND QUARTER Kansas State 13, Texas Tech 7
-Tech has the ball to start the quarter, they're down two scores.
-Donovan Smith has his arm hit while throwing on third-and-17, and throws up a wobbly ball that's picked off by Kansas State.
-Wildcats RB Deuce Vaughn fumbles and Texas Tech recovers. The Red Raiders get the ball back on the very next play after their interception. Vaughn is down on the field with an apparent injury.
- Texas Tech converts on fourth down with the Tahj Brooks carry. (Q2 10:55)
- Texas Tech RB Tahj Brooks fumbles after making the catch and the Red Raiders promising drive is stopped in its tracks. K-State takes over at the Raider 33-yard line. (Q2 10:06)
-Wildcats RB Deuce Vaughn is back on the field.
-Texas Tech's defense gets another impressive stop. They force K-State to go three-and-out. The Red Raiders get another shot, but they'll start at their own 15-yard line.
-Red Raiders go three-and-out. They punt to the Wildcats who return it to their own 45-yard line. The Tech defense will have another short field to defend.
-Tech RB SaRodorick Thompson has two big runs (18 yds, 21 yds) and the Red Raiders are on their best drive of the game. They're in the red zone for the first time. (Q2 3:13)
-Smith finds Martinez in the end zone for the 6-yard TD pass. The Red Raiders cap off the 9 play, 86-yard drive with a score and it's a six-point game with under two minutes to play in the half. Absolutely huge momentum swing for Tech. Kansas State 13, Texas Tech 7. (Q2 1:24)
-The Red Raiders get the ball back with 21 seconds on the clock and no timeouts, but quickly move the ball to the K-State 34-yard line. Trey Wolff will attempt the long FG to end the half.
-Wolff hits the 51-yarder, a career long, and the Red Raiders are right in this game at halftime. Kansas State 13, Texas Tech 10-Halftime.
HALFTIME: Kansas State 13, Texas Tech 10
The performance by Texas Tech's defense, excluding that first drive, cannot be emphasized enough. They singlehandedly kept the Red Raiders in this game when the offense was stalling, holding the Wildcats to a 1-for-6 conversion rate on third downs and coming up with a key fumble recovery.
They've got the momentum now, having scored ten points unanswered and they'll get the ball to start the half. A game that looked like it was getting out of hand is well in reach for the boys in Black and Red.
END THIRD QUARTER: Kansas State 20, Texas Tech 20
-Tech starts with the ball and picks up a quick first down on the ground.
-Three-and-out from Kansas State, Tech takes over at their own 33-yard line.
-Texas Tech has charged down the field and they're all the way down to the wildcats 20-yard line. Tech WR Myles Price down on the field with an apparent injury.
-Tech goes 46-yards and ultimately settles for a FG. It's a tie game here in Q3. Texas Tech-13, Kansas State 13. (Q3 7:07).
-Wildcats RB Vaughn breaks off a 69-yard run to start a 77-yard drive for K-State. They punch it in from 18-yards out on a Martinez pass to Brooks and they retake the lead. Kansas State 20, Texas Tech 13. (Q3 6:04).
-Incredible response from Smith and the Red Raiders, who go 75 yards in 7 plays to tie the game at 20. Texas Tech 20, Kansas State 20. (Q3 3:08).
-Trey Cleveland with maybe the catch of the year. One-hander for 58-yards and the Red Raiders are in the red zone again.
END FOURTH QUARTER: Kansas State 37, Texas Tech 28
- Red Raiders K Wolff misses the 41-yarder and the game is still tied at 20 early in the fourth.
-Kansas State responds immediately with a three-play 76-yard drive. Martinez caps it off with a 69-yard TD run and the Wildcats are back on top. (Q4 13:34).
-A holding penalty puts Tech behind the chains and they can't make up the yardage. The Red Raiders. get stopped on fourth down and K-State takes over at the Tech 40-yard line.
-Wildcats are inside the red zone again after some quick running with just about ten minutes left in the game.
-Red Raiders defense holds in the red zone again. K-State is held to a FG, but there's less than ten minutes on the clock. Kansas State 30, Texas Tech 20. (Q4 9:07)
-Smith is sacked and fumbles, Wildcats recover. It's going to be difficult to come back from that.
-Kansas State caps off the 27-yard drive with a Martinez run from 12 yards out to score. Kansas State 37, Texas Tech 20. Q4 (5:54).
-Red Raiders are moving the ball, but there's not much time left in this three-score game. (Q4 3:33)
-Smith runs it in from a few yards out for the score. The Red Raiders drive goes 75-yards for the score and get the 2-point conversion, but they'll have less than three minutes to try to get nine more points. Kansas State 37, Texas Tech 28. (Q4 2:23)
-Texas Tech's Krishon Merriweather recovers the onside kick and the Red Raiders have life at their own 46-yard line. (Q4 2:20). Smith immediately completes a 25-yard pass to Xavier White.
-Smith throws a pick on a play that was apparently blown dead, but it stands. Extremely questionable officiating, but it's Wildcats ball with under two minutes. (Q4 1:56)
-Kansas State has broken out the victory formation. Martinez will take knees until the clock hits zero. Kansas State 37, Texas Tech 28. Final.
FINAL: Kansas State 37, Texas Tech 28
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