Texas Tech started its Big 12 Conference schedule strong, winning three straight, but now head to Ames, Iowa, on a two-game losing streak to face No. 11 Iowa State.
While Iowa State (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) was on a bye week, the Red Raiders (5-3, 3-2) lost a heartbreaker to TCU 35-34, giving up 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to fall to sixth in the conference.
In its past two losses, Texas Tech allowed 94 points to its opponent, forcing head coach Joey McGuire to challenge his defense.
“We’ve got to continue to play better on defense,” McGuire said. “I felt like we got out tackled in space the last two games with Baylor and TCU, those are things we’re going to challenge the guys at.”
A hurdle Texas Tech was able to jump was the loss of quarterback Behren Morton, who left at halftime after injuring his non-throwing left shoulder. True freshman Will Hammond stepped up to both throw and rush for a touchdown, throwing for 121 yards on 10-for-15 passing without an interception.
“I’ve just been so impressed with the young man who’s their quarterback he goes out,” Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell said. “And at halftime, the first drive I think he’s 9-for-9 right down the field for a touchdown. This young freshman comes in, I think it shows how well dedicated they are at teaching their system.”
McGuire didn’t rule Morton out of Saturday’s game, saying that anyone questionable on the injury report will be ready to play. Practice this week will determine if Morton starts over Hammond.
Iowa State has its own impressive quarterback in Rocco Becht, who led the Cyclones over UCF 38-35 on Oct. 19. With 30 seconds remaining, Becht scored on a 1-yard run to cap a 11-play, 80-yard drive where the sophomore quarterback either ran or passed on every play. The drive only lasted 78 seconds.
“He’s got a quarterback that’s playing at high level. They’ve got two NFL receivers. They’ve got three running backs that they rotate,” McGuire said about Iowa State’s offensive threats.
Adding to that group is the potential return of tight end Ben Brahmer, who left in the second quarter of the win over UCF. Brahmer averages 17.9 yards per catch and is important in Iowa State’s balanced rushing attack, providing blocking for the trio of Cyclones running backs.
Iowa State may get others back who were able to recover during the bye week, putting the team in the best spot it has been health-wise since September.
“A week off was such a pivotal time for our football team,” Campbell said. “We’ll probably be as close to as strong as we’ve been since probably the Arkansas State game (on Sept. 21).”
An Iowa State win would secure its best start to a season, eclipsing a 7-0 start in 1938. It also would keep Iowa State atop the Big 12 standings, tied with No. 9 BYU, which is idle this week.
