LUBBOCK, Texas — Taj Brooks ran for 172 yards while scoring the game-tying and winning touchdowns, Behren Morton threw 2 TDs to Coy Eakin, and Texas Tech’s Bearcats ran for 51 yards on Saturday night. They persevered and defeated Cincinnati 44-41. A field goal attempt on the last play of the game.
Shortly after the Red Raiders’ only punt after a two-minute timeout, Cincinnati (3-2, 1-1 Big 12) went 58 yards from its own 10. Nathan Hawks’ game-ending kick went wide. It came off. Brendan Thorsby, who finished with 426 yards and four TD passes, had completions of 28 and 19 yards on the final drive as the Bearcats lost 20 seconds on two clock runs off. The first time was after an injury and the other time was after a potential targeting penalty. After the quarterback took a sliding shot at the end of a short run, it was reviewed but not forced.
Brooks scored a 1-yard TD run with 1:39 left in the first half, tying the game at 24 points. Tech decided to stay after linebacker Jacob Rodriguez recovered a fumble inside Cincinnati territory and Brooks ran it for a 2-yard score just 2 1/2 minutes after halftime.
Thorsby’s first pick of the season was his 149th attempt, and AJ McCarty returned an interception 51 yards for a Tech touchdown early in the fourth quarter for a 41-27 lead.
Sports summary
RELATED: 5 takeaways from Texas Tech vs. Cincinnati: Red Raiders escape with victory after missed FG
Morton completed 19 of 29 passes for 251 yards and the Red Raiders (4-1) moved to 2-0 in Big 12 play for the first time since 2013. They extended their home winning streak to six, capping off a three-game homestand. Under third-year coach Joey McGuire, they had a good record at home with a record of 14 wins and 3 losses.
Cincinnati lost running backs Corey Kiner and Evan Pryor to unspecified injuries. Kiner only had three carries on Cincinnati’s opening drive. Pryor scored a 1-yard TD before halftime, but did not return after a 36-yard carry in the third quarter.
Third-team freshman running back Manny Covey ran a screen pass for a 71-yard score two plays after Thorsby’s interception. Gino Garcia kicked a 27-yard field goal for the Red Raiders, and Covey added a 3-yard TD catch with 3:32 left.
The Hawks made field goals of 37 and 26 yards, but missed a 42-yard attempt on the final play of the first half.
Take-out
Cincinnati: The Bearcats finished with 555 total yards, but their offense became pretty one-dimensional as Kiner and Pryor were both injured and fell behind after halftime. Cincinnati trailed by just 17 seconds through the first four games after scoring the final 15 points of the Sept. 7 game and giving Pittsburgh a 28-27 victory on a late field goal.
Texas Tech: Brooks had his 16th career 100-yard rushing game, fourth in four years and 12th in the last 15 games. He didn’t break the century record during that span, gaining at least 95 yards in each of those three games. … The Red Raiders are 9-1 in one-possession games at home, led by McGuire.
to the next
Cincinnati: Has an open day before playing UCF on Oct. 12.
Texas Tech: Plays Big 12 newcomer Arizona next Saturday night.
5 takeaways from Texas Tech vs. Cincinnati: Red Raiders walk away with win after missing FGT Texas Tech lead receiver Josh Kelly cleared to play against Cincinnati
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