Texas Tech Football: Game Balls For Week 3

The Texas Tech football team emerged from Houston with a hard-fought 27-24 win Saturday. A number of Red Raiders made significant contributions and here are four that deserve game balls.

Texas Tech is now 3-0 after coming away with a three-point victory over the Houston Cougars on Saturday. The Red Raiders put an end to Houston’s nation-leading 16-game home win streak and made a statement by winning in a hostile environment against a tough opponent.

As expected, the game was physical throughout and Houston’s elite defensive line put stress on the Texas Tech offense for much of the game. Quarterback Nic Shimonek faced the most challenging test of his career and he responded by going 29/45 for 321 yards and two touchdowns.

Shimonek was good but not good enough to earn one of our meaningless and imaginary game balls. But here are four Red Raiders that did earn a prestigious “Wreck ‘Em Red” game ball.

Dakota Allen

The resurrection of the Texas Tech defense can no longer be denied and no newcomer has made more of an impact than linebacker Dakota Allen. Against Houston, Allen recorded 12 tackles (8 solo and one for a loss), intercepted a pass and was credited with two quarterback pressures.

He was the leader of a Texas Tech defense that carried the offense on its shoulders all afternoon. Allen has a nose for the ball and seems to be in on every play that takes place in the box. He is also a sure tackler fully capable of making one-on-one stops, a skill that has been lacking in Texas Tech linebackers for far too long.

Allen has increased his tackles total in increments of three each week this season. Thus far, he has 27 tackles and a sack in three games.

The former star of the documentary series “Last Chance U” has made the most of his second chance at Texas Tech. If he continues to play at this level, the Texas Tech defense will continue to open eyes during Big 12 play.

Justin Stockton

The senior running back from San Antonio is putting together a nice season following a huge letdown in 2016. On Saturday, Stockton put the game away by using his best weapon; his speed.

With Tech protecting a 20-10 lead at the 8:41 mark of the 4th quarter, the offense was backed up deep in its own territory. On first down, Stockton broke free for a huge 84-yard run to the Houston 10-yard-line. Two plays later, he would score the game-clinching touchdown on a 20-yard screen pass.

Stockton ran for 102 yards on 10 carries (10.2 per carry) and caught two passes for 22 yards. Saturday was another example of how Stockton can make the Red Raider offense even more lethal than it already has been.

He is a home run threat every time he gets the ball in his hands. Against a tough Houston defense, Texas Tech found it difficult to sustain long drives.

Thus, Stockton’s big plays were crucial in providing Tech with just enough offense to emerge with a win. On the season, Stockton has already scored three touchdowns, quickly equaling his total from a season ago.

Tony Jones

As 2017 began, many wondered which Texas Tech defender would emerge as a disruptive force. The answer appears to be JUCO transfer Tony Jones.

The hybrid defensive end/linebacker has been a fantastic find for the Red raiders. Against Houston, Jones recovered two fumbles as part of Tech’s five takeaways.

Like Allen, Jones seems to have the innate ability to always be around the ball. That speaks to his natural instincts, especially considering the fact that he is in his first year of Gibbs’ system and likely does not know the defense as well as other players.

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This season, Jones has had impact plays in every game. He recorded a sack against Eastern Washington, two quarterback hurries and five tackles against Arizona State and the two fumble recoveries against the Cougars.

For years, Texas Tech has struggled to find defenders capable of pressuring the quarterback on a consistent basis but thus far, Jones is proving to be that guy. His play-making needs to continue as Texas Tech prepares to face the potent offenses that await in conference play.

David Gibbs

Life must be quite a bit brighter in the Gibbs household this year. After two seasons that saw his defense ranked second-to-last and last in the nation in total defense, the third-year defensive coordinator is finally starting to see his defense play the kind of football he wants.

Gibbs was hired primarily because of his reputation for coaching defenses that forced turnovers in spades. However, that was not the case in his first two seasons in Lubbock.

Last year, Tech forced just 14 turnovers. But on Saturday, the Red Raiders took the ball away from Houston five times (though one was on special teams).

Each of those turnovers was huge in helping Texas Tech hold off Houston as the “Air Raid” offense sputtered for much of the afternoon. On the season, Tech has seven total takeaways and has forced at least one turnover in each game.

Gibbs’ defense has also become amazingly difficult to run against. Last year, Tech gave up 238.6 yards per game on the ground. This season, that number has dropped to 119.7 per game.

Saturday, Houston managed 110 yards on 31 carries. What’s more, 52 of those yards came on scrambles from UH backup quarterback Kyle Postma.

Gibbs defense shut down Houston’s most dangerous weapon, running back Duke Catalon. He was held to just 41 yards on the afternoon and rendered a non-factor.

Biggs has stuck with his system and spent the last two seasons building his defense the right way. Instead of using what he referred to in the past as “rat trap” schemes he has instilled fundamentals in his players and now that approach is paying huge dividend.

Next: Texas Tech Football: Why Strength Program Matters

Other players worthy of recognition for their play against Houston are running back Tre King, who had 98 rushing yards, Keke Coutee (who should probably get a game ball every week) with his 161 receiving yards and a touchdown and defensive backs Jaylon Lane, Vaughnte Dorsey and Jah’Shawn Johnson who recorded six tackles apiece.