Texas Tech football: Turning points in loss to Horned Frogs
![LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 16: Texas Tech Red Rainders mascot the Masked Rider leads the team onto the field before the college football game against the TCU Horned Frogs on November 16, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 16: Texas Tech Red Rainders mascot the Masked Rider leads the team onto the field before the college football game against the TCU Horned Frogs on November 16, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/1ae7950bcc036593147022f9f42e832090d05e35ed1b603f2c74268cbd34e679.jpg)
TCU picks up a critical 1st down on an amazing catch by Taye Barber
Remember Taye Barber? You should after his 8-catch, 137-yard game. And though he didn’t find the endzone, he may have made the game’s most important reception.
With his team down for the first time in the game after Tech scored its second TD of the third quarter to go up 28-27, the sophomore made a fantastic catch of 39 yards on 3rd-and-12. This set TCU up at the Tech 15 and ultimately allowed the Frogs to retake the lead on a field goal.
At this point in the game, the Tech offense was in a groove. It had scored touchdowns on its last three drives and has the defense been able to give the ball back to Jett Duffey and Co., Tech might have been able to take the game by the throat.
Tech did almost everything it could on this play. A blitzing Riko Jeffers rocked Max Duggan as he let go of the ball but the freshman stayed tall in the pocket and delivered the ball knowing he was about to be hit.
Meanwhile, Frye was once again in decent trail position on Barber. But again in man-to-man coverage, he had no help over the top.
The catch was impressive because Barber had to fight to find the ball over his shoulder as Frye closed on him. Going to the ground, he brought in the catch and completely flipped this game.
Next. Texas Tech vs. TCU: Inside the stats. dark
Sometimes all you can do is tip your hat to the other team. On this play, Duggan and Barber came up big despite the fact that for once on third down, Tech was in the proper position and did what it’s defensive coordinator asked it to do. Sometimes that’s just how the frog croaks.