Texas State quarterback Shaun Rutherford helped the Bobcats build a 10-9 halftime lead at Texas Tech Saturday before the Red Raiders rolled to a 50-10 win. Rutherford led the ’Cats, who next play at Wyoming, with 82 yards rushing. (Photo courtesy of Texas State University)
From STAFF REPORTS
Texas State held a halftime lead against Texas Tech, but the Red Raiders turned the momentum in a big way in the second half in a 50-10 win at Jones AT&T Stadium Saturday night in Lubbock.
Texas State jumped on Tech early when Joplo Bartu sacked Seth Doege on the third play of the game to force a punt on the Red Raiders opening drive.
Texas State true freshman Will Johnson made the most of his collegiate debut, as he connected on a 40 yard field goal with 6:30 to go in the first quarter to put the Bobcats on top 3-0.
The Bobcat defense came up big again when Darryl Morris forced and recovered a fumble on the Red Raider 41. Tim Hawkins’ 5-yard run on fourth-and-2 kept the ensuing drive alive for the Bobcats.
Marcus Curry followed with a 7-yard scoring run to give Texas State a 10-0 lead with just over a minute to play in the first quarter.
On the ensuring drive, it took Texas Tech just three plays and 60 yards to score. Doege was able to connect with Brad Marquez on a 10-yard touchdown pass, making it 10-7.
After getting backed up on its next drive, Texas State was called for intentional grounding in the end zone and as a result it was ruled a safety. The miscue cut the Bobcats’ lead to 10-9 as the final seconds of the first quarter wound down.
Much of the second quarter was a back and forth possession game between the two clubs. Linebacker Brian Lilly came up with a hard hit on Doege as he sacked the quarterback on 3rd-and-17 to take the Red Raiders out of field goal range, leaving the score 10-9 at halftime.
Texas State began the third half with a surge, but a fumble by Bobcat quarterback Shaun Rutherford on the Red Raider 17 handed Texas Tech back the ball with 11 minutes left in the quarter.
Texas Tech would eventually take advantage of four Texas State turnovers in the second half to turn the game into a lopsided affair. Darrin Moore caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Doege, and Eric Stephens broke free on scoring runs of 46 and 2 yards to help break the game open.
Doege finished the game with 326 passing yards and three touchdown passes. Eric Stephens rushed for 118 yards to lead the Red Raiders.
Rutherford led all Bobcats with 82 rushing yards and Marcus Curry added 71 rushing yards to go with Texas State’s lone touchdown of the day.
Texas State will return to the field on Saturday to play Wyoming at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
