Wreck'Em Red
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Texas Tech football: Hidden moments in victory over SFA

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 24: Helmets sit along the sideline before the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the West Virginia Mountaineers on October 24, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 24: Helmets sit along the sideline before the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the West Virginia Mountaineers on October 24, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Sep 11, 2021; Lubbock, Texas, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders masked rider before the game against the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2021; Lubbock, Texas, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders masked rider before the game against the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

Jaylon Hutchings stuffs run on 1st and goal

Though he didn’t lead the team in tackles, defensive tackle Jaylon Hutchings was the player of the game on Saturday night.  That’s because he made two huge plays on the final drive to help his team avoid an embarrassing upset.

Just about everyone remembers Hutchings’ sack on second-and-goal from the Tech 11.  It was arguably the play of the game for the Red Raiders.

But almost just as critical was his run stop on first-and-goal.  With SFA set up at the Tech eight, Hutchings swallowed up running back Ja’Bray Young for a three-yard loss.

That play proved to be critical because it set the tone for the defense on the final set of downs and it pushed SFA back to a point where they had to throw the ball on every play instead of utilizing the entire playbook.  And these back-to-back plays by Hutchings helped atone for his crucial mistake earlier in the drive.

Nine plays prior, Hutchings was flagged for a facemask on Self to give SFA an automatic first down when they faced a second-and-30 from their own 27.  And after the game, Hutchings said that he was determined to make up for his gaffe.

That’s what a leader does and Hutchings has certainly become that for the Red Raiders.  Tech likely doesn’t win this game if not for these consecutive plays by Hutchings.

But while the sack he had is going to be the play that is most remembered, Tech fans shouldn’t overlook the play he made on first down.  That’s because every yard was crucial on that drive and his tackle for loss proved to be a massive play in helping keep SFA out of the endzone.

Close call vs. SFA feels more like a loss. light. Related Story

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