In a thrilling season opener, the Texas Tech Red Raiders narrowly edged out the Abilene Christian Wildcats with a 52-51 overtime victory on August 31, 2024, at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock. If you like offense, this was a game to see. Over 1,100 total yards of offense combined between the two teams.
Game Summary
The game was a rollercoaster of emotions, with both teams showcasing their offensive prowess. Texas Tech started strong, scoring 22 points in the first quarter alone. Behren Morton, the Red Raiders’ quarterback, was instrumental, throwing for 378 yards and five touchdowns. Tahj Brooks also made significant contributions on the ground, rushing for 153 yards. Josh Kelly led the Red Raiders receivers with 10 catches, 156 yards, and a touchdown. Coy Eakin had a pair of receiving touchdowns as well.
Abilene Christian, however, was not to be outdone. Maverick McIvor, their quarterback, threw for an impressive 506 yards and three touchdowns. Isaiah Johnson contributed with three touchdowns on the ground, including a game-tying 5-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Blayne Taylor led the Wildcats in receiving with 7 catches, 141 yards, and a touchdown.
Key Moments
First Quarter: Texas Tech’s explosive start included a touchdown pass from Morton to Caden Eakin and a rushing touchdown by Brooks.
Second Quarter: Second Quarter: Abilene Christian responded with a touchdown pass from McIvor to Blayne Taylor, narrowing the gap.
Fourth Quarter: Fourth Quarter: The Wildcats tied the game with a touchdown run by Isaiah Johnson, sending the game into overtime, on the next series with a 21-yard field goal by Ritse Vaes as time expired in regulation.
Overtime: Texas Tech scored first with a touchdown pass from Morton to Coy Douglas. Abilene Christian answered with a touchdown run by Johnson but failed on a two-point conversion attempt, sealing their fate.
Statistics
- Texas Tech Red Raiders:
- Total Yards: 539
- Passing Yards: 378
- Rushing Yards: 161
- First Downs: 27
- Turnovers: 0
- Abilene Christian Wildcats:
- Total Yards: 615
- Passing Yards: 506
- Rushing Yards: 109
- First Downs: 30
- Turnovers: 1
Texas Tech’s ability to capitalize on key moments and maintain composure under pressure ultimately led them to victory. Abilene Christian, despite the loss, showed a lot of fight on the field. They showed the FCS Football world that they will be a contender this season. The gutsy call to go for two in overtime was still the best decision even if it didn’t succeed.
The Red Raiders will go on the road this Saturday, taking on the Washington State Cougars. The Abilene Christian Wildcats will play in their home opener this Saturday against West Georgia.