Turnovers Doom KU at Tech

LUBBOCK, Texas - Four turnovers resulting in 28 Texas Tech points spoiled any chance of the University of Kansas football team picking up its sixth win as the Jayhawks fell to the Red Raiders 42-21 Saturday afternoon in front of 47,291 fans in Jones AT&T Stadium.

Kansas fell to 5-3 overall while Texas Tech improved to 6-3 (3-2 Big 12).  With four league games still left, KU dropped to 1-3 in the Big 12.
 
KU's defense gave the Jayhawks the early advantage when senior DE Jeff Wheeler sacked Red Raider QB Seth Doege, and in the process forced a fumble that was picked up by senior DE Maxwell Onyegbule.  Onyegbule picked up the loose ball at the three yard line and fell into the endzone to give Kansas the 7-0 lead after a Jacob Branstetter PAT.
 
The 7-0 lead stood until the second play of the second quarter when Doege hit a streaking Detron Lewis for 61 yards.  The PAT evened the score at seven.
 
TTU added its second score on a two yard rush from Baron Batch with 3:05 left in the first half.  Texas Tech got the ball on the six yard line after sacking QB Todd Reesing from the blind side and knocking the ball loose.
 
Moments later, KU tied the game after KU DE Jake Laptad sacked and forced a fumble on Doege.  The Jayhawks recovered and freshman RB Toben Opurum forced his way into the endzone from two yards out.
 
At halftime, the teams entered the locker room tied at 14. Texas Tech outgained Kansas 127 to 106 in yards in the half. For Kansas, Reesing was 9-of-18 for 88 yards, senior RB Jake Sharp had six carries for 21 yards and junior WR Dezmon Briscoe had four catches for 61 yards.
 
Kansas' two first half touchdowns each came after forced fumbles (Wheeler and Laptad).  Texas Tech was also able to capitalize off of a Kansas turnover.
 
KU took the lead 21-14 in the closing seconds of the third quarter after orchestrating an impressive 10-play, 81-yard drive. Reesing connected with Briscoe three times on the drive including a touchdown pass from six yards out.  On the play, Reesing twisted around to avoid a sack before finding Briscoe wide open in the endzone.
 
The hookup from Reesing to Briscoe was the 26th time the pair found each other for a touchdown in their careers. No other active tandem in college football has as many touchdowns.
 
It didn't take long for Texas Tech to respond, as it immediately drove 80 yards to tie the game at 21 on a one-yard run from Batch.
 
TTU forced another KU turnover and then turned that into seven more points on its next drive to take the lead 28-21.  Set up on the 23 yard line going in, Batch scored his third TD on a 17 yard run.
 
Looking to tie the game, Kansas went for it on fourth and one from its own 31 on its next possession.  The snap was mishandled and a fumble resulted in a 31 yard defensive touchdown for the Raiders and Tech led 35-21 with 7:10 remaining in the game.
 
Kansas could not answer and Texas Tech tacked on one more TD for the final 42-21 score.
 
Despite the scoreboard suggesting otherwise, the defense did well, holding TTU to its second lowest total yards of the season, forcing three turnovers, breaking up seven passes and sacking the quarterback five times.  Laptad, Chris Harris, Darrell Stuckey, Ongegbule and Wheeler all posted sacks.  Bradley McDougald became the first player since Aqib Talib to record a catch on offense and an interception on defense.
 
For the game, Texas Tech outgained Kansas 358 yards to 258.  Reesing finished 20-of-35 for 181 yards and a touchdown.  Briscoe finished with 110 yards on nine catches including a TD. Sharp had 50 yards on 10 carries.
 
Texas Tech QBs Doege and Taylor Potts combined to go 25-of-47 for 253 yards and one touchdown. Batch finished with four touchdowns and 123 yards on the ground.
 
Kansas will play its second straight road game next week in Manhattan, Kan., when it faces Sunflower Showdown rival Kansas State.  Game time and TV assignments are yet to be announced.  ABC is using its second of three opportunities to make a six-day announcement.
 
KU's possibilities for television broadcast are 11:30 a.m. on Vs., or 2:30 or 7 p.m. on ABC.

Story courtesy:  KUAC