Texas Tech's national title hopes were eliminated Saturday night, as the Oklahoma Sooners triumphed in Norman in a 38-30 game.
Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma 2013 results: Sooner fans impressed with offensive performance
The Texas Tech faithful find it hard to be disappointed, considering the team’s surprising start to the year.
Brett Deering
The Red Raiders took an early lead on a trick play -- Kenny Williams threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Eric Ward. Oklahoma responded in a strong way, with back-to-back passing touchdowns from Blake Bell in the second quarter. Damien Williams' three-yard touchdown run early in the third made it 21-7 Sooners.
Texas Tech had its own response in the seesaw game, as Davis Webb threw two touchdown passes and Ryan Bustin kicked a field goal to give them a 24-21 late third quarter lead. Oklahoma pulled away with it late, however, scoring 17 of the last 23 points to secure the 38-30 victory.
Jordan Esco from the Crimson and Cream Machine said Oklahoma’s offensive efficiency was encouraging, and could help improve what is already a very stout defense.
Those type of run heavy drives are exactly how this offense is going to be successful going forward and not just for themselves, but also for this OU defense (who played outstandingly in this game) who needs their own break in between drives. And the run has to be the primary feature of this offense because it’s the best defense, i.e. keeping the ball away, from an offense like the one in Baylor this OU team will face a week from Thursday. AND because there are few, if any, Big 12 defenses built to stop predominantly run heavy offenses.
Seth C of Viva the Matadors was not too dismayed despite the loss, pointing to the Red Raiders’ low expectations heading in to the season.
Texas Tech has done a ton with two freshmen quarterbacks at the helm and what we thought was going to be a rebuilding year, or at least I thought it was. I’ve mentioned it a couple of times, but I thought that Texas Tech was essentially playing on house money at this point and most national pundits had Texas Tech winning seven games all year, maybe an eighth game for the bowl game. But here they are, 7-1 and the only loss coming in Norman when this team wasn’t even favored to win that game (somehow Vegas gets this right quite a bit). So I could be totally hacked off, but I think the better feeling is that this is a team that is winning despite shooting itself in the foot and has room to improve this year.
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