Texas Tech trainer Joey McGuire loves to gamble. He loves to take possibilities. He has a wholesome recognize for analytics. Occasionally the analytics inform you to move for it.
The analytics may truly have advised McGuire to move for it on fourth down two times within the fourth quarter in their very own territory within the Red Raiders’ 34-24 loss to No. 7 TCU on Saturday. If this is the case, the loss is extra on McGuire than on his gamers, particularly his protection.
When the fourth quarter began the Purple Raiders had a 17-13 lead over the undefeated Horned Frogs. Texas Tech had simply punted overdue within the 1/3 quarter, and TCU was once riding within Purple Raider territory. Tech nonetheless had momentum because the Purple Raider protection was once taking part in an impressive sport, especially end Tyree Wilson, who was once within the TCU backfield all of the sport.
That momentum disappeared beneath the load of TCU’s offensive step forward and was once speeded up by way of McGuire’s decision-making when it got here to fourth down.
The Horned Frogs endured to make use of working again Kendre Miller — who completed with 158 speeding yards — as a battering ram. The Tech protection had performed neatly however was once additionally dressed in down slightly.
Then 3 giant defensive consequences on a unmarried pressure harm the Purple Raiders’ efforts, extending the TCU ownership each and every time, leading to Miller’s two-yard landing run that gave the Horned Frogs their first offensive landing of the sport and a 20-17 lead.
Nonetheless, the sport was once some distance from over. Just about the entire fourth quarter remained or even with backup quarterback Tyler Shough working the display, Texas Tech had an opportunity to win.
That opportunity evaporated beneath the load of questionable decision-making and a loss of execution
The Purple Raiders went for it on fourth down at the subsequent two possessions. Each instances the Purple Raiders have been in their very own territory after they did it. Each instances they didn’t convert. Each instances, the Horned Frogs grew to become the ones errors into touchdowns.
The primary got here proper after TCU’s go-ahead rating. Tech confronted 4th and a couple of on the Tech 36. McGuire inserted third-string quarterback Donovan Smith, who didn’t convert the primary down after speeding for simply two yards. He neglected a wide-open working again, Tahj Brooks, within the flat.
3 gamers later TCU quarterback Max Duggan hit extensive receiver Derius Davis for a 23-yard landing cross and a 10-point Horned Frogs lead. The play, in opposition to Tech’s zone protection, noticed Davis break up via 4 Purple Raiders defenders to catch the cross on an extended slant.
Davis additionally scored the sport’s first landing, which got here on an 82-yard punt go back after Tech’s first ownership.
The Tech offense failed once more at the subsequent pressure. The Purple Raiders began on their very own 26 and reached their very own 45 prior to Shough failed to hook up with extensive receiver Myles Value on 4th and four.
TCU had the soccer once more and scored once more, this time with Duggan connecting with Emari Demercado on a 16-yard landing cross with 5:46 last.
With TCU up 34-17, the sport was once principally over.
The fourth quarter negated the primary 3 quarters, that have been stuffed with Texas Tech taking part in high quality protection whilst its offense overcame the loss to starting quarterback Behren Morton within the first part.
To win video games, a crew has to complete. The Purple Raiders didn’t. And McGuire’s penchant for playing value Texas Tech on Saturday.
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