LUBBOCK, Texas – After receiving the opening kickoff Saturday afternoon, Texas Tech’s offense sliced through Colorado’s defense.
The Red Raiders got the ball rolling with a 46-yard kickoff return, a 35-yard pass and a 17-yard toss from Behren Morton to tight end Jalin Conyers. Colorado turned the game around in just 70 seconds.
Tech added field goals on its next two possessions, forcing the Buffs into a 13-0 hole.
What is CU’s answer on defense?
“This guy’s right here,” safety Caron Silmon-Craig said during a press conference, pointing to defensive tackle Amari McNeil who was sitting next to him. “That whole group, that whole room. Everybody really bought it.”
The Buffaloes got a great night from a powerhouse up front in a 41-27 win at Jones AT&T Stadium.
McNeil, filling in for injured Shane Cokes, had nine tackles, three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
“Amari understood his opportunity. He understood his time,” CU head coach Deion Sanders said. “He had a chance, and he took it well.”
He was hardly alone.
Defensive tackle Chidozie Nwankwo recorded seven tackles, and defensive ends Arden Walker (7 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble), Keaten Wade (3 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and BJ Green (1 sack) Everyone stepped up.
Inside linebackers Lavonta Bentley (10 tackles) and Nikahai Hill-Green (nine tackles, one interception) were both impressive.
“I think the front office took responsibility for what happened tonight and made arrangements to continue to stop the run,” Saunders said.
Tech star running back Taj Brooks amassed 137 rushing yards to become the school’s all-time leading rusher, but it wasn’t easy. Through three quarters, he had just 58 yards on 23 carries. In the fourth quarter, he had eight carries for 79 yards.
Brooks needed 121 yards to reach the record, but looked like he would barely get there all night.
“The main plan was not to have him set rushing records,” McNeil said. “He grabbed it and even though he made the shot, we still got (the win), but that was the main plan and we didn’t let him rush the record. Stop the run first. , it’s all about being able to turn your head back and relax on third down.”
With Brooks resting for most of the night, the front seven recorded six sacks, the second-most for the Buffs this season.
“We knew we had it in us,” McNeil said. “The time just came and we had to let them make plays, because we do that in practice. So the important thing is when the time comes and when your number is called, you make the play. .”
Overall, CU’s defense held the Big 12’s No. 1 offense to nearly 10 points below its season average of 36.4 points. The Red Raiders had 400 yards (47 yards below average), but it took 87 plays to get there, 180 of which came in the fourth quarter.
“We know all we have to do is get out there and pull over,” Silmon Craig said. “So we know that once we believe in who we are, we have to keep stopping. We know who we are, who we work for. I We believe in each and every player. So we stick to the main thing and only the main thing and go out and drop in.”
First Published: November 10, 2024 3:17am MST
