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Texas Tech football: Handing out game balls from 37-34 win over UT

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 24: Donovan Smith #7 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at Jones AT&T Stadium on September 24, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 24: Donovan Smith #7 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at Jones AT&T Stadium on September 24, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Getty Images) /
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Sep 24, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson (5) rushes against Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive back Krishon Merriweather (1) in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson (5) rushes against Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive back Krishon Merriweather (1) in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

Krishon Merriweather was the defensive hero of the day

Let’s turn our attention to the Red Raider defense and the job that coordinator Tim DeRuyter’s side of the ball did on Saturday.  A year after allowing Texas to score 70 points on them, the Red Raiders gave up less than half of that on Saturday and kept a dangerous Longhorn offense from putting this game away in the second half, allowing the Tech offense time to find its rhythm in the fourth quarter.

Leading the way for the Red Raiders was middle linebacker Krishon Merriweather, who had eight tackles, seven of them being solo.  And of course, he made the play of the game in overtime.

Dislodging the football from Texas’ star running back Bijan Robinson on the first play of the overtime period, Merriweather forced a turnover that could have season-altering implications for his team.

The super-senior is on pace for 78 tackles in the regular season, which would be a career-high.  That’s important given that he is the lone holdover from last year’s excellent linebacking corps that also featured Colin Schooler and Riko Jeffers.

Merriweather is leading a Tech defense that has been particularly stout against the run.  Giving up just 149 yards on the ground to the Horns, the Red Raiders now rank 4th in the Big 12 against the run, surrendering just 99.2 yards per game.

A huge component of that success has been Merriweather’s play.  And on Saturday, he made the defensive stop of the game by forcing a turnover at the most opportune time.

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