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Texas Tech football: Alan Bowman returns in blowout of Kansas

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 20: Alan Bowman #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders calls signals at the line of scrimmage during the first half of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on October 20, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 20: Alan Bowman #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders calls signals at the line of scrimmage during the first half of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on October 20, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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The Texas Tech football team knocked off Kansas 48-16 Saturday in a game that saw the return of QB Alan Bowman.

The Texas Tech football team defeated Kansas 48-16 Saturday to move to 5-2 on the season and 3-1 in the Big 12.  Sophomore quarterback Alan Bowman returned from a partially collapsed lung suffered on September 29th to throw for 408 yards and three touchdowns.

However, the true freshman looked rusty early on missing open receivers and looking tentative in the pocket.  As he and the Texas Tech receivers struggled to find an early rhythm, the Red Raiders allowed Kansas, which entered the game as an 18-point underdog, to stay in the game with both teams managing only a field goal in the opening quarter.

But a 21-point second quarter, that saw running back Tre King find the end zone on the period’s first play, proved the be the difference.  After Bowman found T.J. Vasher in the end zone and Ta’Zhawn Henry scored on a 4-yard scamper, Tech had all the offense it would need heading into halftime up 24-3.

While the Red Raider offense struggled to find its footing early, the defense was locked in all afternoon.  David Gibbs’ defense held Kansas to just 318 total yards and forced two turnovers on the day as Tech prevented its opponent from scoring more than 17 points for the third time in four Big 12 games.

Most importantly, Kansas running back Pooka Williams, the second-leading rusher in the Big 12 was held to 80 yards on the day, 27 below his season average.  Meanwhile, Jayhawk QB Peyton Bender was woeful completing just 18/41 passes for 221 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

The game was an important opportunity for Texas Tech to get their star quarterback back into game action following three weeks of rest and recovery.  Bowman was not perfect but against Kansas, he could afford to work out the kinks.

Next week, Bowman will have to be much better against an Iowa State defense that is allowing over 22.7 points per game this year.  Tech has managed just 23 total points in the last two meetings with Iowa State.

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With the win, Tech moved within one victory of earning bowl eligibility and has already equaled the second-most Big 12 wins in a season in the Kliff Kingsbury era.  Of course, expectations around Lubbock and the Texas Tech football program are far higher and they will continue to grow with each win.

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