Texas Tech football: Five hidden moments in victory over Murray State

Tech sack on 3rd and goal

There were only two Murray State drives that reached scoring territory in the first half.  Given the fact that Tech scored on every drive it had in the first two quarters, there was simply no way the Racers could have kept pace.

However, early in the game, the visitors had a shot at keeping this game close, which is what every huge underdog has to do if they want to start to put doubt in the favorite’s head.  On the Racers’ third possession, they got their passing game going and drove inside the Red Raider 10.

A 51-yard completion set Murray State up with a first-and-goal at the Tech nine-yard line.  But instead of trying to throw the ball, the Racers would run it twice in a row and pick up only two yards.

That set up a third-and-goal at the seven.  Fortunately, on that play, the Red Raider defensive line came up big.

Murray State QB DJ Williams dropped back to pass and appeared to have time to throw the ball.  However, he didn’t release it on time as he stood in the pocket and had a couple of pump fakes.

That hesitation proved to be costly as Williams would be sacked by three Red Raiders with Krishon Merriweather and Tyree Wilson getting credit for the sack in the stat book.

Down by the goal line, passing windows get smaller and the field shrinks.  That’s when Williams’ lack of status as a pinpoint passer proved to be his undoing.

Instead of finding a receiver to try to throw the ball to or deciding quickly to use his feet, he seemed to have a bit of a brain freeze and it cost his team four points.  In the end, those four points would not be a deciding factor in the game but at the time, they could have cut the Tech lead to just seven points, which would have given Murray State a boost of confidence.  Instead, they had to settle for three points, which was not nearly enough to keep them in the game.