TEMPE, Arizona (KCBD) – After No. 7 Texas Tech team posted one of the greatest starts to the season — both across the country and in program history — the team experienced its first defeat, losing to Arizona State 26-22 Saturday.
“We just missed on too many opportunities and earlier we held them to field goals, and we just didn’t counter with any scores,” said head football coach Joey McGuire after the game.
“But the one thing I said to them is ‘just like coming off a win, you got to come back Sunday and look at the film and learn from it. We got to do the same thing; it’s just a lot harder to do after you lose. Our goal is to keep winning and earn our way into the Big 12 Championship, and that doesn’t change anything with a loss today.
“It just makes it a little bit more difficult, and we got to fire our way back.”
In the final minutes of the fourth quarter, the Red Raiders’ offense appeared to find momentum after struggling to find its rhythm for most of the contest.
Tech’s offense came to life with 3:45 left to play when quarterback Will Hammond, who started in place an injured Behren Morton, capped off a 48-yard drive with a one-yard run at the goal line. After forcing the Sun Devils to punt on the subsequent drive, Coy Eakin returned the ball 36 yard to the ASU 12. On the very next play, Hammond connected with wide receiver Reggie Virgil for a touchdown catch on the very next play for the 22-19 lead with two minutes remaining.
For Arizona State, late game experience appeared to pay off for veteran QB Sam Leavitt, who led the Sun Devils 75 yards for the final score of the night. The biggest play was a 33-yard pickup from receiver Jordyn Tyson on 4th and 2, which gave ASU a first down at the Red Raider 22 with :55 left on the clock. The home team quickly regained the 26-22 lead with a goal line run from back Raleek Brown.
Last week against Utah, Leavitt sat out in order to stay healthy to play Texas Tech, and the Sun Devils lost 42-10. Coach McGuire said Leavitt presence made a difference Saturday.
“That quarterback changes everything. He’s a difference-maker. He’s one of the best in the country, he played very well today, he threw for 319,” McGuire said. “I thought he did a good job with his feet whenever he needed to, I know everybody rallies around him, so they’re a different team whenever he’s playing, and he’s back there. We did not play well enough today to win the football game”.
Hammond then had 25 seconds, and 64 yards needed for the game-winning touchdown. On the final play, a 28-yard Hail Mary fell to the ground, and the ASU student body immediately stormed the field.
After recording two second-half wins in recent weeks against Utah and Kansas, this was Hammond’s first official start since last year’s Liberty Bowl. Saturday in the desert, he was 22-for-37, including two touchdowns and one interception. He also led the team on the ground, running for 47 yards of 15 carries. RB Cameron Dickey, who last week posted one of the nation’s best performances of the year with 263 yards was limited to 40 yards in Tempe. J’Koby Williams was held to 22 but did have a better outing on special teams with returns of 56 and 31 yards. The other touchdown came with 5:57 in the second quarter when Hammond connected with Eakin for a 30-yard touchdown pass, one upheld by instant replay.
On the defensive side, Tech’s run defense was business as ASU was held to 75 yards and posted four sacks. However, the unit struggled to contain Leavitt who was 28-for-47 and threw for 319 yards and a touchdown throw to Tyson, who is expected to be a first-round pick in next year’s NFL draft. He made ten catches for 105 yards. Arizona State also controlled time of possession, by having the ball for more than 37 minutes.
The Red Raiders came in ranked No. 7 team by the Associated Press, No. 8 by the US LBM Coaches. Both numbers are expected to drop Sunday afternoon when the new polls are announced. No. 2 Miami (Fla.) and No. 5 Ole Miss also suffered their first loss this weekend.
Texas Tech (6-1, 3-1) returns to Jones AT&T Stadium next Saturday and will take on Oklahoma State. Kickoff set for 3 p.m.
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