On the Pitch
A busy weekend for the soccer team as Texas Tech defeated Cincinnati, 2-0 on a penalty kick from Kaitlyn Giametta and a goal from Taylor Zdrojewski. The defense only allowed 6 shots total and 2 shots on goal.
Then on Sunday afternoon, Texas Tech soccer played No. 13/8 Colorado and defeated the Buffs 3-1. Texas Tech started their scoring with a goal from Raleigh Greason, and then a really impressive goal from Zdrojewski, who had to battle a defender halfway down the pitch, likely fouled, and scored anyway. Another goal from Zdrojewski, maybe off of a Colorado player with an incredible center from Sophie Neves. Colorado received a penalty kick with less than 2 minutes and Addie Todd had a terrific kick-save, literally saved it with her foot. Amazing stuff.
These ladies will host Arizona State on Friday night, first-touch is at 7 p.m.
On the Gridiron
Texas Tech football fell 1 spot to No. 11 overall, one spot behind LSU and ahead of Utah. Let’s get to some links.
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Nathan Giese writes that fans should not make reservations for the CFP with this team:
Outside of Austin Romaine’s pick-6s on consecutive plays from scrimmage, there wasn’t much to be impressed by in Texas Tech Saturday until the second half. The offense was a mess in the first half, Will Hammond having about as many completions to the other team (three) than to his own (seven). The defense needed those pick-6s to make up for the offense’s inability to sustain a drive and let the Bearkats beat them over the top and in the middle of the field on passes throughout the day.
Kenny Johnson’s athleticism has saved him a few times, because without a few highlight grabs, his lack of connection with Hammond would be a bigger story. Micah Hudson is a non-factor to the offense. Quinten Joyner is still a step slow and should see fewer carries as we progress. Cameron Dickey and J’Koby Williams shouldn’t be taking a backseat at this point.
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams asks if Texas Tech really needed to put a target on their back:
When I suggested to Joey McGuire that people are getting impatient for that, the Tech coach replied, “Me, too.
“If we can clean up the first half,” McGuire said, “then we should get to it fairly easily. But until we play a clean a game, it’s going to be tough.”
Granted, the athletics departments Texas Tech had a summertime beef with aren’t the ones at Abilene Christian or Sam Houston or Oregon State. It’s some of the in-conference rivals and other Power Four conference schools. They were angry that Tech parted ways with Sorsby only when his presence potentially risked the Red Raiders’ season due to the threat of sanctions.
Red Raider Sports’ Mason Turnbow on the offense finding their footing in the 2nd half:
“Really, just going out there and executing. I mean, first-half football. I mean, I feel like we had hats on hats. said Wilson, “I just feel like guys were just trying to do too much, just trying to not do their 111, do someone else’s job.” I mean, Coach McGuire just brought us in, told us to take a deep breath and just go out there and do our job, and that’s exactly what happened.
Red Raider Sports’ Lane Selph on needing to start better:
“We’ve done that all four games, and so that’s on me,” McGuire said. “I’ve got to find a better way. I’ve got to find a better way for us to start. I’ve got to find a better way for us to play clean football.”
McGuire also reiterated the fact that while starting fast in games is great, he wants the Red Raiders to start clean. “Let’s just start clean and see if somebody can actually make plays on us instead of us giving them the things that we’re giving them,” McGuire said.
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams has his post-game Q&A and this bit is about the issues returning punts:
Q: Why do our punt returners drop so many punts? Why do we fumble it so much? — derwake
DW: After looking at all nine Sam Houston punts again, I thought Joseph’s directional punting gave Tech trouble. Though Joseph is another of the many Australian punters who can challenge return units in that way, I think Saturday’s game is a one-off from a Tech standpoint. Kenny Johnson, in particular, is an experienced and accomplished return man, which he’s already showed in his first month with the Red Raiders.
Having Johnson and Simmons both deep isn’t something Tech’s done much, and McGuire indicated the communication wasn’t spot-on.