MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Texas Tech has always been known for its fast-tempo offense and it’s not different under second-year head coach Matt Wells, and WVU coach Neal Brown believes the Red Raiders’ fast pace hurt his defense, especially early.
The Mountaineers came in with the No. 1-ranked defense nationally in yards allowed per game at 240, but Tech was able to put up 235 yards in the first half alone.
“I thought we got tired,” Brown said. “Their tempo bothered us and that should never be the case, but it was. Their tempo bothered us.”
Brown was especially perturbed about the rush defense, which allowed 179 yards, as well as Tech’s 3rd-down conversion rate, which was at 50% (8 of 16). Tech quarterback Henry Colombi’s ability to run and make plays with his legs attributed to both, but according to senior safety Sean Mahone, Brown was exactly right — the Mountaineers were not ready for the tempo the Red Raiders gave in the first half.
“The biggest thing that got us was the tempo,” Mahone said. “We have to get lined up faster, and like today, including myself, we couldn’t get lined up fast enough. That hurt us.”
Mountaineers execute fake punt
In the third quarter on a 4th and 3 from its own 42-yard line, WVU put receiver Winston Wright in motion on a punt formation, and long-snapper Kyle Poland sent the ball back into the waiting arms of Wright, who scampered eight yards to get the first down.
According to Wright, that play has been in the back pocket of the playbook for weeks — it was simply waiting for the right opportunity to use it.
“We’ve been practicing it since the season started,” Wright said. “Coach Brown has been pushing us to run it. My special teams coordinator Jeff Koonz has been telling me we’re going to run it. We might not run it this game, and when the time presented itself, we just executed what we’ve been practicing.”
Tony Fields ejected for targeting
The Mountaineers suffered a big blow in the first quarter when linebacker Tony Fields, the team’s leading tackler, was ejected for targeting following a hit on Texas Tech quarterback Henry Colombi.
Colombi slid feet first, which automatically means the play is dead, and Fields dove in late and collided helmets with Colombi’s. By rule, it was a clear targeting call, though there was no intent by Fields. However, the flag was not originally thrown by the officials, and it wasn’t until after a review after play was stopped that it was ruled the foul was committed.
“We have made the game so difficult to officiate on targeting and difficult to coach,” Brown said. “That could have been a good call or it could have been a bad call — I have no idea. As a head football coach, I don’t have a clear understanding of the targeting penalty. I feel bad for the officials on the field, I feel bad for the review. I don’t know.”
Since the penalty occurred in the first half, Fields can return for next week’s home game against Kansas State.
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