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Texas Tech football: Offense is not coming through in big moments

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 05: Wide receiver Erik Ezukanma #84 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders catches a pass during the second half of the college football game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys on October 05, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 05: Wide receiver Erik Ezukanma #84 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders catches a pass during the second half of the college football game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys on October 05, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Tech fails to break tie on its final possession at Kansas

The low point of the season came in Lawrence when Tech lost to the Big 12’s laughingstock, Kansas.  That night, Tech jumped out to a 17-0 lead only to see KU tie the game at 34-34 with 5:12 to play.

This is where Tech needed to put together a time-consuming scoring drive and escape from the lion’s den that is Memorial Stadium in Lawrence with a win.

Nope.

Making this 3-and-out possession so frustrating is the fact that Tech picked up nine yards on first down thanks to a reception by Dalton Rigdon.  Picking up one yard against a Jayhawk team that is atrocious against the run should be academic.

But the moment this drive went off the rails came on the next play when Duffey sent a swing pass out to Thompson in the flats.  With enough room ahead to keep the drive going, the RB looked upfield to find the oncoming tacklers and in the process, didn’t secure the catch.  That’s a play he has to make in that situation.

On 3rd-and-one, everyone on both sidelines and the hundreds of fans in the stands knew that Tech was going to run the ball.  They did, right into four Kansas defenders who stopped Thompson for no gain.

That would be the last time Tech would see the ball in that game (well…not really…hello Doug Coleman).  Kanas took over at its 26 with 3:50 to play and methodically moved the ball into field goal range where it would hit its second of two game-winning FG attempts.

This offense should be able to move the ball in critical moments against Kansas of all teams.  After all, the KU defense is currently 9th in the conference in total defense.  And given that the only team below them is our beloved Red Raiders, this was literally the worst defense Tech will face in Big 12 play.  And they couldn’t pick up a single yard on two plays.

Certainly, the defense has to shoulder the majority of the blame in this debacle.  Giving up four scores of over 50 yards to the Jayhawks would be considered egregious for even the Irons Middle School defense, much less Tech’s.

But the offense had an opportunity to pick up the slack and carry the team to a win and it failed to do so.  All night, Tech was able to move the ball against KU but when it mattered most, the offense put forth its worst drive of the night and it cost this team a win.

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