LUBBOCK – Willie Fritz said in the postgame, “Against a good quality opponent, you’ve got to play well. We played ok.”
When you add being on the road and playing in a great environment, your good isn’t going to get it done. You’ve got to be great in the moments that matter.
Texas Tech got it done when it mattered most.
When it mattered most, Tech put together an 11-play, 87-yard TD drive. When it mattered most, UH ran four-straight passing plays on consecutive drives and didn’t attempt a run. Both drives ended in a punt.
When it mattered most, Texas Tech punched it in. And when it mattered most, UH jumped on 4th and 2 and had to send in the field goal unit.
When it matters most, the Coogs can’t beat the Coogs.
When it mattered most, save for a sack, Houston went over 19 minutes of game time without a rush attempt.
When it mattered most, Houston went over 30 minutes of game time without a TD. That can’t happen on the road.
Texas Tech did not play a perfect game. In a moment of hubris, Red Raider coach Joey McGuire sent vagabond backup QB Tommy Castellanos out on the first play. The careless Castellanos tried to throw a pass away but didn’t get it out of bounds. Will James then made a great play to pick it off.
UH converted that idiocy into a touchdown and took a 10-0 lead.
But Tech was simply better with the game on the line. UH sustained drives in the first half (21 minutes TOP), but Tech did it when it mattered. Tech controlled almost 11 minutes of the clock in the fourth quarter, squeezing just enough of it to get the win.
A year ago, the difference in the teams was massive. Friday night, it was clear that UH had narrowed the gap, but they haven’t fully erased it. The Cougars had plenty of chances to win, but Texas Tech was the better team when it mattered most.
