By Tiffany Williams –
Texas Tech flexed its muscle Saturday night, pounding previously unbeaten Houston 35-11 behind a relentless attack led by Behren Morton and J’Koby Williams. Morton threw for 345 yards and a touchdown while Williams ran for two scores as the Red Raiders stormed to 5-0, their best start since 2013.
The Red Raiders have been a juggernaut this season, outscoring opponents 243-56 in five games, winning each by at least 24 points. Against the Cougars, Tech’s offense was firing on all cylinders, piling up 552 yards while keeping Houston’s vaunted attack largely in check.
Houston’s Conner Weigman struggled through the first half, throwing for just 71 yards with an interception before leaving late in the second quarter with an apparent injury. Zeon Chriss-Gremillion stepped in, scrambling for 11 yards and hitting a 64-yard touchdown to Amare Thomas, but it wasn’t enough to slow Tech’s onslaught.
Tech struck first with three early field goals, but Morton quickly put the Red Raiders on another level. A short pass to Cameron Dickey turned into a 69-yard touchdown after Dickey juked two defenders and ran untouched to the end zone. The 2-point try failed, leaving Tech up 15-3.
Houston threatened briefly after Rodriguez’s interception gave Tech the ball inside the 25, but J’Koby Williams responded, plowing in from five yards out to make it 22-3. Caleb Johnson led the receiving corps with 114 yards on seven catches while Coy Eakin added 81 on 10 receptions. Williams rushed for 107 yards and Dickey added 98 on 21 carries, powering Tech to an unstoppable total.
Houston’s lone bright spot came just before halftime when Chriss-Gremillion found Thomas for a long touchdown and later connected with Stephon Johnson on a 2-point conversion, cutting the lead to 25-11. Chriss-Gremillion finished with 93 passing yards, an interception, and 59 rushing yards.
Texas Tech extended the margin in the third with a 29-yard field goal and closed it out in the fourth as Williams punched in a 1-yard score, cementing the 35-11 victory.
The Red Raiders host Kansas next Saturday, while Houston travels to Oklahoma State hoping to regroup after a tough night in Lubbock.
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