HOUSTON — Texas Tech leapt out to an early lead behind quarterback Tyler Shough en path to a 42-25 win versus Mississippi in the Texas Bowl on Wednesday night.
It was tough to inform that Shough had missedouton a bulk of the past 2 seasons due to a stickingaround collarbone injury as the 6-foot-5, 230-pound senior played with negligent desert. He heldupagainst big strikes from Ole Miss protectors following his veryfirst 2 slides, one which led to the ejection of leading tackler Troy Brown.
In the veryfirst 2 quarters, the previous Oregon transfer ran for a profession high 111 lawns and a set of goals and passed for another to go with 242 lawns in the air — while the defense tape-recorded 3 takeaways.
After enjoying colleagues make plays while rehabbing a broken collarbone, twotimes, Shough bounced back after an early interception and willed his group to a 19-lead at halftime that Texas Tech neverever givenup.
He got some assistance from Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, who is likewise returning on his COVID-bonus year. The protective back tape-recorded an interception, stopped a phony punt with a shoe-string takeon and recuperated a fumble all in the veryfirst half. Texas Tech transformed those chances into 10 points.
That 19-point benefit decreased to 2 ratings after Jaxson Dart, pounding a blitz and sustaining a struck in the procedure, discovered Jordan Watkins for an 11-yard TD pass to close the space to 26-13 with 9: 08 left in the 3rd quarter. Jonathan Cruz’s additional point was large ideal after the rating.
The Red Raiders produced a bit more separation as SaRodorick Thompson scored a 1-backyard goal, his 40th profession rating, unblemished to put the Red Raiders ahead 32-13 with 13: 20 left in the videogame.
Mississippi closed the space to 10 points as Malik Heath carried in a 19-yard TD, though the Rebels might not transform the two-point conversion.
Texas Tech reacted in a huge method on the onside kick as Loic Fouonji captured the ball and returned it 44 lawns to put the benefit back to 3 ratings at 42-25 with 3: 05 left in the 4th.
That topped a banner day that began with Texas Tech revealing a brand-new six-year offer that included a year and supplied a $1 million raise for coach Joey McGuire.
A strong veryfirst half permitted the Red Raiders to holdupagainst a late-game rise from the Rebels.
Defensive back Malik Dunlap broke up a pass from Dart to large receiver Jonathan Mingo, on fourth-and-7, to force a turnover on downs and supply the Red Raider offense a possibility to fracture a scoreless tie.
It looked appealing as Shough required 6 plays to march Texas Tech to the Rebels 11, after