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Texas Tech football: Why turnovers are not paying off for Red Raiders in 2019

By Matthew Conner

TUCSON, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 14: Defensive back Douglas Coleman III #3 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders intercepts a pass from the Arizona Wildcats during the first half of the NCAAF game at Arizona Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TUCSON, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 14: Defensive back Douglas Coleman III #3 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders intercepts a pass from the Arizona Wildcats during the first half of the NCAAF game at Arizona Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
(Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Tech turns 5 Oklahoma State turnovers into 13 points

One game where turnovers did prove to be huge for the Red Raiders was the 45-35 win over Oklahoma State in Lubbock.   With three picks and two fumble recoveries, Tech kept a lethal Cowboy offense at bay and was able to turn those gifts into enough points to upset the No. 21 team in the nation.

All five turnovers came from redshirt freshman OSU quarterback Spencer Sanders.  His fumble on the first possession of the game set Tech up at the Cowboys 28.  But a negative Armand Shyne run and two Jett Duffey incompletions forced Tech to settle for a Trey Wolff FG.

Damarcus Fields picked off Sanders in the second quarter to give Tech the ball at the OSU 33.  But Tech could not pick up a first down, thanks in part to a 5-yard illegal procedure penalty, and the drive ended with a missed 43 yard FG.

On the next OSU drive, Coleman intercepted Sanders and Tech had the ball at the OSU 37.  This time, the drive led to seven points when Duffey connected with Kesean Carter for a 14-yard TD two plays later for a 20-0 lead.

Late in the third, Sanders fumbled again when he was sacked by Brooks.  Tech recovered at the Tech 30 and embarked on a 7-play, 61-yard FG drive that made the score 37-21 in favor of the home team.

The final pick of the day came on OSU’s last possession when Coleman nabbed his second of the game.  He returned the ball to the Tech 49 but a personal foul for an illegal block by Riko Jeffers pushed the ball back to the 27.

Turnovers won the Oklahoma State game for Tech but in a game that could have seen the team score 28 points off takeaways, (we won’t hold the drive after the final OSU INT against Tech because they just took a knee) Tech left 15 points on the board.  That would prove a costly habit just one week later.

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