Countdown to Kickoff – Texas Tech
September 23, 2023 08:00 AM | Football
| Tale of the Tape |  |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 34.7 | 29.3 |
| Points Against | 25.3 | 20.3 |
| Rushing Yards Per Game | 162.7 | 200.3 |
| Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game | 143.0 | 93.0 |
| Passing Yards Per Game | 271.7 | 179.0 |
| Passing Yards Allowed Per Game | 235.0 | 214.7 |
| Total Yards Per Game | 434.3 | 379.3 |
| Total Yards Allowed Per Game | 378.0 | 307.7 |
| First Downs For | 79 | 61 |
| First Downs Against | 64 | 49 |
| Fumbles/Lost | 3/1 | 3/3 |
| Interceptions/Return Yards | 3/56 | 5/95 |
| Net Punting | 44.3 | 38.3 |
| Field Goal/Attempts | 5/9 | 1/1 |
| Time of Possession | 27:04 | 32:03 |
| 3rd Down Conversions | 20/43 | 14/39 |
| 3rd Down Conversion Defense | 22/50 | 12/38 |
| Sacks By/Yards Lost | 6/26 | 5/34 |
The Red Raiders are coming off a 41-3 victory over Tarleton State last Saturday in Lubbock, Texas. Running back Tahj Brooks led Tech with 158 yards, the most by a Red Raider back since Justin Stockton went for 161 against Kansas in 2017. It was the first time Brooks surpassed 100 yards since rushing for 107 yards in last year's game against West Virginia.
Texas Tech played two quarterbacks against Tarleton State, including Behren Morton, who passed for 325 yards and two touchdowns last year against WVU, but Oregon transfer Tyler Shough is expected to get the start later today. Both could see action against the Mountaineers.
The Red Raiders are 9-3 in games Shough has started, and West Virginia coach Neal Brown believes Tech's pass receiving corps ranks among the best in the Big 12. All-Big 12 Preseason pick Jerand Bradley leads the group with 17 catches for 211 yards and two touchdowns through the first three games of the season.
Other Red Raider players to keep an eye on Saturday are defensive linemen Jaylon Hutchings and Tony Bradford, and punter Austin McNamara.
Texas Tech has 11 players mentioned on Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List this year.
The Red Raiders opened the season with a double-overtime loss at Wyoming and then dropped a 38-30 home decision to 10th-ranked Oregon.
Noted Texas high school coach Joey McGuire owns a 9-7 record in his second season at Texas Tech.
West Virginia, meanwhile, is coming off a 17-6 victory in the Backyard Brawl last Saturday night at Milan Puskar Stadium.
Starting quarterback Garrett Greene was injured on West Virginia's sixth offensive play of the game and gave way to backup Nicco Marchiol, who completed 6-of-9 passes for 60 yards and a touchdown.
West Virginia's defense limited Pitt to just 144 total yards after its opening offensive possession of the game. CJ Donaldson ran 18 times for 102 yards and scored one of the game's two touchdowns. The other was scored by WVU tight end Kole Taylor.
"The Backyard Brawl is a huge deal for our fan base and our state, but our players don't necessarily understand all of that," Brown said. "I try and educate them on the historical reference and what it means, but I wouldn't say they understand it like a 20-year season ticket holder who grew up in the state of West Virginia."
What those players do know is Texas Tech has had their number the last four years, including a pair of victories in Morgantown in 2019 and 2021. The Red Raiders are the only legacy Big 12 team the current coaching staff has yet to defeat.
Last year, Texas Tech defeated West Virginia 48-10 in Lubbock.
"They've had our number. They've won the last two times here, which doesn't happen very often," Brown said. "If you watch that film, it wouldn't take you very long to get ready for this one because that was bad ball last year."
WVU began the season with a 38-15 loss at seventh-ranked Penn State and defeated Duquesne 56-17 in its home opener.
Brown said during his Thursday night radio show that it will be a game-time decision on his starting quarterback. This afternoon's game concludes a three-game homestand for the Mountaineers.
Here is today's Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – TEN Mountaineer players have earned their first career starts at WVU this season: Jaylen Anderson (RB), Beanie Bishop (CB), Devin Carter (WR), Hudson Clement (WR), Treylan Davis (TE), Trey Lathan (LB), Mike Lockhart (DT), Nick Malone (OL), Kole Taylor (TE) and Anthony Wilson (S).
9 –West Virginia's defense ranks 13th among power conference schools in interceptions over the last NINE years with 100.
8 – The Mountaineers have gained at least 500 yards of total offense EIGHT times under Neal Brown, including 619 yards two weeks ago against Duquesne.
7 – There are SEVEN juniors listed on West Virginia's defensive roster this season.
6 – Former walk-on Hudson Clement is the team's top pass catcher with SIX receptions for 187 yards and three touchdowns. The bulk of that came in the Duquesne victory.
5 – Five Mountaineers have at least 24 career college starts under their belts: Devin Carter and Doug Nester (43), Anthony Wilson (38), Zach Frazier (37) and Brandon Yates (24).
4 – Texas Tech has won FOUR games in a row against West Virginia to even the all-time series at 6-6. The last two Red Raider visits to Morgantown have resulted in 38-17 and 23-20 triumphs.
3 – West Virginia's defense created THREE takeaways in last Saturday's Pitt victory and has produced five takeaways for the season.
2 – The Mountaineers have had 100-yard rushers in back-to-back games for the SECOND year in a row. Freshman Jahiem White topped the century mark against Duquesne and last week it was CJ Donaldson Jr.
1 – The Mountaineers rank FIRST in the nation this week in interception avoidance. WVU quarterbacks Garrett Greene and Nicco Marchiol have attempted 70 passes without throwing an interception so far this season.
Today's game has been tabbed a Gold Rush with Mountaineer fans encouraged to wear gold. The 33rd annual WVU Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place in the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility at 1 p.m. and among the six inductees today will be former Mountaineer grid standout Bruce Irvin.
Also, a 30-year reunion of the 1993 team, which played in the Sugar Bowl, has been organized for this weekend with returning players and coach Don Nehlen recognized on the field during the first quarter. Captains Rich Braham, Mike Collins and Tim Brown, and quarterback Jake Kelchner, are among those expected to be at the game.
"Hopefully we can have the same type of crowd and the same type of atmosphere we had a week ago," Brown said.
Mountaineer Sports Network radio coverage begins with the GoMart Mountaineer Tailgate Show at 12:30 p.m. on stations throughout West Virginia, online via WVUsports.com and the popular Varsity Network and WVU Gameday apps leading into regular network coverage with Tony Caridi, Dwight Wallace and Jed Drenning at 2:30 p.m.
A 3:30 p.m. kick off has been established with ESPN+ (Drew Carter, Dustin Fox and Tori Petry). handling the television coverage.
Be sure to stop back afterward for complete postgame coverage.
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