Texas Tech football: Game balls for win over Oklahoma State

There were plenty of heroes for the Texas Tech football team in its win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys.  Here are three players that deserve game balls for their performance this week.

The Texas Tech football team’s 41-17 win over Oklahoma State on Saturday was the most complete performance of the Kilff Kingsbury era.  Tech entered the game against the No. 15-ranked Cowboys as a two touchdown underdog but controlled the game for the final two-and-a-half quarters of play.

The win moved the Red Raiders to 3-1 on the season and 1-0 in Big 12 play.  Texas Tech now finds itself ranked in the top 25 for the first time this year ahead of a showdown with No. 12 West Virginia this weekend in Lubbock.

As might be expected in a 24-point road win over a team as good as Oklahoma State, there were tons of standout performances for the Red Raiders.  Quarterback Alan Bowman was more than solid going 35 of 46 for 397 yards and two touchdowns while shaking off the first two interceptions of his collegiate career.

The freshman running back combo of Sa’Rodorick Thompson and Ta’Zhawn Henry combined for 131 yards and a touchdown as both continue to see their roles in the offense increase.

Three Red Raider receivers, Antoine Wesley, Zach Austin and Ja’Deion high each had at least seven receptions while T.J. Vasher had a touchdown reception as one of his three catches.  In all, nine players caught a pass from Alan Bowman with seven brining in at least two passes.

Defensively, Texas Tech’s linebackers all made an impact.  Dakota Allen and Jordyn Brooks tied for the team lead with six tackles while sophomore Riko Jeffers recovered a fumble.

But while those players stepped up, the following three players were the catalysts for the team leading the Red Raiders to a win in Stillwater for the first time in 18 years.  Here are the players most deserving of our mythical game balls.