'It hasn't looked pretty, man,' but Texas Tech is 3-0 after surviving Houston.
Texas Tech · HoustonMcGuire wasn’t making Castellanos QB1. But McGuire and offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich were trying to confuse the Cougars, and they may have gotten too cute.
Castellanos threw an interception on Texas Tech’s first play from scrimmage. Houston had already driven for a field goal, and that gift set up the Cougars for a Conner Weigman -to- Amare Thomas touchdown pass.
“They got pressure right in Tommy’s face right from the get-go,” McGuire said. “That was fixing to be an explosive play.”
And if the Cougars had managed to punch in a two-point conversion in the final minute and force overtime, McGuire might have spent the night wondering if he should have just let Hammond come out and run the offense. Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire decided to throw backup quarterback Tommy Castellanos — who is only playing because of a court injunction following an NCAA rule change and who only joined the Red Raiders four weeks ago — into the starting lineup.
KEY POINTS
- “Just because it’s starting off a little rocky doesn’t mean it’s going to end that way,” Texas Tech defensive tackle A.J. Holmes said of a 28-26 win against Houston that looked in the first quarter like it would go quite differently.
- Texas Tech survived Houston 28-26, and Red Raiders coach Joey McGuire said the team is still finding itself following the revelation that Cincinnati QB transfer Brendan Sorsby wouldn't be able to play this season.
- Texas Tech defensive tackle A.J. Holmes was talking about the Red Raiders’ season, but he could have been talking only about Friday night against Houston when he said this…
- Suddenly the Red Raiders had spotted 10 points to perhaps the best opponent on their regular-season schedule.