Texas Tech football: Why turnovers are not paying off for Red Raiders in 2019
Tech manages just three points off of three Baylor turnovers
When Tech met Baylor, the game matched the historically turnover-prone Duffey with Baylor’s QB Charlie Brewer, who had not thrown a pick all year. Five interceptions (and one Tech fumble) later, Baylor emerged from this double-OT battle with a 33-30 win.
Despite picking off Brewer three times, Tech only scored three points combined on the ensuing drives. Meanwhile, Baylor managed just three points as well off of the Red Raiders’ charitable contributions.
After Brewer’s first interception, a pick by Evan Rambo, it took Tech nine plays to travel just 46 yards before settling for a 40-yard FG. While the drive was a dink and dunk affair outside of a 25-yard Thompson run, at least it yielded points.
Following Rambo’s INT, Tech was penalized again for an illegal block. This one was rather controversial because the official gave the No. 79 as the player who was guilty of the foul. There was no Red Raider on the field in that number but there was a Bear wearing No. 79 and most inside the Tech program (coaches and those in the know, not just fans) believe that the refs simply made a mistake and refused to acknowledge it.
What foreshadowing that proved to be. On this play, a mistake resulted in a 30-yard difference in field position which proved to be critical.
On Baylor’s next possession, Coleman intercepted Brewer at the Tech 45. But two plays later, Duffey was intercepted and Baylor was back in business at the Red Raider 41.
The same scenario played out early in the 4th quarter. After Tech’s Ja’Marcus Ingram came down with a Brewer pass in the end zone, Duffey returned the favor on the following possession.
This pick proved to be a killer because Duffey had driven his team to the Baylor 21. Trailing 17-13 at the time, points were a necessity but Tech came up empty. And given that the game eventually went to OT, it is easy to see how monumental even a field goal would have been on that drive. In overtime, there were no turnovers…officially.