BOULDER, Colo. (KCBD) – For the fourth week in a row, the No. 12 Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) relied on a strong second-half performance, shutting down the Colorado Buffaloes (2-3, 0-2 Big 12) in a 29-7 win at Folsom Field.<\/p>\n
Minutes into the game, Colorado took an early 7-0 lead when Buffalo QB Isaac Wilson connected with WR Joseph Williams in the end zone for an eight-yard score. From there, CU\u2019s offense was largely non-functional for the rest of the night, and the Red Raiders ended the game with 29 unanswered points.<\/p>\n
In spite of the slow start, Texas Tech head football coach Joey McGuire says he\u2019s proud of the way his coaches and players keep finding ways to win week after week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u00a0created four turnovers and we dropped another three interceptions, but\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0just finding a way to win the game,\u00a0that\u2019s what we\u2019re trying to do. We\u2019re trying to get better, we\u2019re trying to start cleaner,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to do all that, but at the end of the day, the last thing I tell the coaches when we are staff meetings\u00a0is whatever game we have going on,\u00a0then we adapt to that game and we find a way to win the game and that\u2019s what these guys have done. We\u2019re sitting here 5-0 and we\u2019re 2-0,\u00a0and in conference play that was huge.\u201d<\/p>\n
After Tech responded to Colorado\u2019s opening touchdown with a 52-yard field goal from Stone Harrington, the score remained 7-3 until Harrington completed another attempt from 27 yards out with 9:09 remaining in the third quarter, pulling the Red Raiders within one point. This was made possible with an interception made by Tech\u2019s defensive back Brice Pollock at the Colorado 31.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was great. Playing cornerback is a lot of mental battles. Once I got over that hump, that\u2019s what Coach (Darcel) McBath said it\u2019s pretty much me versus me,\u201d Pollock said. He also made his two picks in front of relatives who traveled a great distance to see him play.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey come as much as they can. They\u2019re from Atlanta, so when they get to come, I really love it,\u201d he said. \u201cI had twenty tickets all the way from Atlanta, Ga., so that meant the world to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the Buffaloes\u2019 ensuing drive, Tech safety Malik Esquerra made his first career interception at an opportune time, picking off Wilson on the Texas Tech 21. The Red Raiders then marched downfield and found the end zone when Tech quarterback Will Hammond found tight end Terrance Carter, Jr. from 11 yards out, giving the Red Raiders a 12-7 lead, their first of the night.<\/p>\n
Carter, who has already missed two games this year because of injury, was a difference-maker for the Red Raiders. In addition to his third-quarter touchdown, he also led with eight catches for 67 yards. Coach McGuire says having Carter back was key, considering the impact he makes both on and off the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s one thing whenever you have a really good tidy and like Terrance. He becomes such a security blanket for the quarterback, and he\u2019s one of the best tight ends\u00a0in the country. He\u00a0came up big tonight. It was great to have him back because he also has great leadership,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Pollock landed his second pick late in the third quarter, deep in Buffalo territory at the Colorado 21, which led to a 27-yard chip shot from Harrington. Tech went up 15-7.<\/p>\n
That was his final field goal attempt of the night, and Tech was finally able to score two more touchdowns from there. With 7:10 left to play, CU was pinned at its own one-yard line, after a 60-yard punt from Will Karrol. On the very next play, linebacker John Curry, also a Coronado alum picked off Wilson while standing in the end zone, and Tech went in front 22-7.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one thing John Curry did a great job on was\u00a0the pick in the end zone,\u201d McGuire said. \u201cWhenever you\u2019re backed up, you\u2019re going to get a hard count, you\u2019re getting direct runs, or you\u2019re getting spread out. The quarterback is going to move the pocket and the last thing that Sheil (Wood, Tech defensive coordinator)\u00a0said to him is\u00a0to be ready for\u00a0a sprint out,\u00a0and John was the edge of the defense. It seems\u00a0right there to make a huge,\u00a0huge play.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI definitely thought they were running the ball there, just because of where they were at on the field, so I beat the block, or what I thought was the block, and the quarterback\u2019s holding the ball staring right at me. I jumped up and he threw it straight to me! It\u2019s pretty awesome, though!,\u201d Curry said.<\/p>\n
The Red Raiders\u2019 final score came with three minutes left to play. Running back Quentin Joyner broke free for a 30-yard touchdown, Tech\u2019s final score of the night, also Joyner\u2019s first score since the opening drive of the Abilene Christian game on Sept. 5.<\/p>\n
While Tech\u2019s defense turned in its strongest performance so far this season, there are still lingering questions surrounding the offense. Running back Cameron Dickey left the game early in the second quarter, following a left ankle injury. During the post-game news conference, McGuire said Dickey\u2019s x-ray has been negative. <\/p>\n
While Hammond avoided throwing any picks, he completed 17-of-26 passes for 134 yards, which led to three punts and four field goal attempts. Running back J\u2019Koby Williams led with 17 carries for 88 yards.<\/p>\n
Coach McGuire said even though the team started slow Saturday night in Boulder, it\u2019s still better than what he\u2019s seen in the team\u2019s first four games this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t think we started as bad as we have really the first four games. I think because\u00a0we saw everything in that first drive by Colorado, I thought\u00a0we really started OK,\u00a0but I\u2019m just finding ways to start better,\u201d McGuire said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to respond to whatever the game is. We\u2019re going to try to find a way to win it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Red Raiders will be off next week, before returning home to face Arizona State in a homecoming rematch of last year\u2019s 26-22 loss, their only defeat of the regular season. <\/p>\n
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