Texas Tech football: Hidden moments that led to a loss vs. the Mountaineers

The Texas Tech football team had opportunities to pull out an ugly win Saturday at West Virginia but in the end, the Red Raiders made too many mistakes to overcome.  Let’s take a look at five hidden moments when the Red Raiders either slipped up or couldn’t make timely plays to come out on top in Morgantown.

A critical penalty against Texas Tech turns into a 4-point play

About the only complaint one can have with the Texas Tech defense in this game was the number of penalties the Red Raiders committed that kept WVU drives alive.  Four times the Mountaineers were gifted first downs after it appeared Tech had come up with a stop and that was one of the stories of the game.

The first time this bit Tech in the backside was with three minutes left in the first quarter and Tech ahead 3-0.  On 3rd-and-9 at the Tech 16, the Red Raiders forced WVU QB Nicco Marchiol to check the ball down for just a three-yard gain to assumedly force the Mountaineers to settle for three points.

However, on the other side of the field, Red Raider linebacker Jesiah Pierre committed a stupid holding penalty that gave the home team new life.  On the play, Pierre was covering a slot receiver who simply ran a go route down the hash.

But instead of trying to turn and run with the receiver, Pierre bodied him up some ten yards down the field causing the receiver to go to the ground and drawing a holding call.  It appears that the wet conditions of the field might have helped the receiver lose his footing which, in turn, helped sell the call.  Had the receiver stayed upright, Pierre might have gotten away with his crime.

Regardless, this was just awful technique by one of Tech’s best defenders.  While pass coverage is not Pierre’s specialty, he should be experienced enough to know that the likelihood of getting beat from the 16 is slim given that the field shrinks in the red zone.

Also, there was safety help in the area meaning Pierre could have just released his man and let the safety pick him up.  Instead, Pierre mugged the receiver and drew a flag to set up the Mountaineers with a 1st-and-goal at the 8.  Three plays later, Neal Brown’s offense would find the endzone for the first time in the game and Tech would never lead again.