Texas Tech football: 5 forgotten plays that changed the course of 2020 season

Colombi’s INT vs. KSU

Following Tech’s 31-21 loss to Kansas State, we all gave backup QB Henry Colombi a pass given that his 30/42 passing, 244-yard, 2-TD passing performance was more than admirable given that it was his first action as a Red Raider.  But that doesn’t hide the fact that his 4th-quarter interception in the endzone was an absolute killer.

At the time, Tech was down just 24-21 and was facing a 3rd-and-5 at the KSU 28.  In other words, this was a crucial moment in a winnable game.

It was a play on which Colombi showed his inexperience in the offense.  With three receivers to the left of the formation and T.J. Vasher the only receiver to the right, Colombi took the snap and floated the ball in Vasher’s direction without even stopping to look at the defense or make any read.  It was as if he was certain that he had one-on-one coverage on Vasher’s side…but he didn’t.

KSU safety Jahron McPherson was playing center field and easily came over to make the interception and deny the Red Raiders of a scoring opportunity.   All year, we complained about how Alan Bowman was a one-read QB but in this instance, so too was Colombi and it cost his team possession at the most inopportune of moments.

Prior to that drive, Colombi had led his offense to three-straight TDs to take a brief 21-17 lead and it appeared that the Red Raiders were in line to finally end their woes in Manhattan, Kansas.  But he and the Red Raiders couldn’t seal the deal thanks in large part to a massive interception that many people may have forgotten about given how well he played the rest of that afternoon.