A Tough Loss for the Wildcats
The Abilene Christian Wildcats suffered their second defeat of the season on Saturday, September 5, falling 33-10 to the No. 12 Texas Tech Red Raiders at Galaxy Stadium in Lubbock. The visiting team found some success on the ground but could not overcome the home side's balanced attack and special teams dominance.
Abilene Christian now sits with a 0-2 record, while Texas Tech improved to 1-0 on the year. The game drew a crowd of 60,229 fans to the venue.
Early Momentum Shifts
Texas Tech controlled the first quarter, opening the scoring with two rushing touchdowns. Quinten Joyner ran for 14 yards, followed by J'Koby Williams crossing the goal line from five yards out. Both scores were good after kicks by Stone Harrington, giving the Red Raiders a 14-0 lead.
The Wildcats responded in the second quarter when Brandon Perez kicked a 41-yard field goal, narrowing the gap to 17-3 at the half. Texas Tech added a 23-yard field goal by Harrington before the break to maintain their lead.
Special Teams Domination
The third quarter was defined by Texas Tech's kicking game. Stone Harrington connected on three consecutive field goals, from 28, 33, and 45 yards out. These three successful attempts extended the home team's lead to 26-3, a deficit the Wildcats never recovered from. The Red Raiders' ability to convert mid-range and long-range attempts into points proved decisive in the second half.
Final Drive and Records
In the fourth quarter, Texas Tech added to their lead with a 64-yard pass from Will Hammond to Malcolm Simmons, followed by a successful kick. Abilene Christian managed a final score with a 98-yard kickoff return by Alex Broome, but it was too little, too late. Will Hammond finished with 26 completions on 33 attempts for 298 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
J'Koby Williams rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. For Abilene Christian, John David Black passed for 119 yards and one interception, while Cristian Driver caught eight passes for 93 yards. Alex Broome also rushed for 52 yards on 10 carries.
The Red Raiders' 33-10 victory solidifies their undefeated start, while the Wildcats look to rebound in their next contest.
Sources
https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401856770
