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Texas Tech football: How the Red Raiders were able to beat WVU

By Matthew Conner

Oct 24, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders react after the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 24, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders react after the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 24, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Winston Wright Jr. (16) is tackled by Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive back Riko Jeffers (6) in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 24, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Winston Wright Jr. (16) is tackled by Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive back Riko Jeffers (6) in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

The Red Raider linebackers were dominant

West Virginia’s offense is built to attack the middle of the defense.  That’s especially true of the Mountaineer rushing attack.

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We’ve already discussed how effective Tech was in keeping Leddie Brown in check on Saturday and most of that credit goes to the Red Raider linebackers.  In fact, they were the driving force behind Tech’s defensive success all night long.

The trio of Krishon Meriweather, Colin Schooler, and Riko Jeffers had nine tackles each as all three shared the team lead in that stat.  What’s more, outside LB Jacob Morgenstern added three tackles of his own while teaming with Schooler to make the play of the game.

It was Morgensterns and Schooler who combined to strip WVU receiver Sam James allowing corner Zech McPhearson to collect the fumble and score the game-winning TD.  Interestingly, on that play, it was three former transfers from Power 5 schools who teamed up to propel the Red Raiders to victory.

In a game when WVU lost their leading tackler and starting middle LB, Fields, thanks to a targeting foul, the disparity between the play of each team’s linebackers was noticeable.  While WVU’s Josh Chandler-Semedo was active with 11 tackles and Exree Loe had nine tackles of his own, they didn’t make near the impact that Tech’s LBs did as neither had a tackle for loss nor did they seem capable of slowing the Tech ground game.

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Meanwhile, the Red Raider linebackers controlled the action in the middle of the defense all game long.  Hopefully, that’s a sign that the position group at the heart of Tech’s defense is starting to gel.

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