TEXAS TECH VS. HOUSTON - GAME SUMMARY

THE GOOD:-
- Tech's running game back on track: The Red Raiders finally remembered they have a running game against Houston as the combination of Batch, Jeffers, and Stephens combined for 163 yards and 3 TDs. Baron Batch had a exemplary showing with a career high 114 yards and 2 TDs. The only question I have is with this much success early on, why did we not continue to run it down their throats in the 4th quarter?

- Early Defensive Stand: After giving up the early TD following the Potts fumble, the Tech defense settled in and limited this high scoring offense for much of the game. They held Houston to 3 punts and 4 FGs [2 made, 2 missed] before allowing another TD in the 3rd. Anytime you make an offense settle for 3 instead of 7, I think you are doing your job. The final stats won't show this, but my impression was that until that final drive, our defense succeeded in not allowing them in the endzone.


THE BAD:

- Killer Turnovers: Although it was early in the game, Potts hit and fumble in the 1st Quarter directly led to the first Houston score of the night. With a good offensive team like Houston, you can't give them the easy TDs. Then, right after we scored in the 3rd to go up 28-20, our defense forced a Houston 3-and-out and a punt that Zouzalik returned to the Tech 45 yard line [great field position]. Batch followed with a great run to the Houston 33, then Stephens fumbled and lost the ball on the next play. This ended with another Houston FG that helped them one-step closer to victory. Basically, our 2 turnovers directly resulted into 10 points for Houston.

- Where did all the Timeouts go?: Our coaches used 2 of our 3 second half timeouts in the 3rd Quarter [both defensive] and the final timeout was used with 12 minutes in the 4th. Granted, this is in hindsight, but we could have probably gotten to FG range there at the end if we could have used one of these timeouts to stop the clock.

- Wasted Opportunities: Besides not coming away with points from the 1 yard line [more on that below], the Red Raiders missed another great opportunity to put the game away with the Ford Interception with 7 minutes left in the game. We had the chance to run down the clock and get another score; instead we got a quick first down before going 3-and-out and punting back to Houston with 5:47 left on the clock.

- The Final Houston Drive: After kicking the and forcing Houston to start from their own 5 yard line. They steadily marched up the field, eating up yards and clock. Houston even went for it on 4th and 3 and got it, probably due to our defense being out of gas and cramping up from the humidity...the one time we needed either a stop or a quick score to get the ball back, and we got neither. This hurt at the end as we just didn't have enough time [or timeouts, see above] to get into FG position to win the game.


THE UGLY:
- Not scoring the 1 yard TD: Alot of fans are up in arms about Leach deciding to go for it early in the 4th quarter instead of playing it safe and kicking the field goal. The field goal would have extended the Red Raiders lead to 8. However, I don't really have a problem with Leach gambling...we were on their 1 yard line and there was still over 10 minutes left in the game.

The problem I have is with the play call itself. As large as our O-Line has been over the years, one thing we have never excelled at is the QB sneak [now I am having flashbacks of our 2 failed QB sneak attempts vs. Texas in 2006]. Our RBs had been dominant all night, so why Potts decided for a QB sneak at this point was baffling. Not scoring here was the beginning of the end and what I feel was the turning point in the game.


What were your thoughts of tonight's game? Should we have played it safe and kicked the field goal? Please leave your comments below...