Turnovers overshadow offensive explosion
9/6/2015 8:36:00 AM | Football
Turnovers overshadowed an offensive explosion by Sam Houston in the Bearkats' 59-45 football loss to Texas Tech Saturday afternoon in Lubbock.
The Kats rolled up 671 yards total offense, the third highest output in school history. But four turnovers including three in the Red Raiders' end of the field spoiled the team's chances of victory..
“I told the kids there are no moral victories for us,” Sam Houston head coach K. C. Keeler said. “You are as good as they are in our eyes. We lose the turnover battle four to one and you're going to lose. I'm disappointed. We thought that we would come in and go toe-to-toe with them. We feel like we executed well enough but lost the turnover battle.”
Texas Tech also came up with big plays when needed. Luc Swimberge's 48-yard field goal cut the Red Raider margin to 21-17 with 7:30 left in the first half. But Jakeem Grant returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown. Sam Houston climbed within striking distance again, trailing only 35-31 with 0:52 left in the half. Texas Tech struck quickly again, driving 67 yards in four plays for a 29-yard touchdown pass 14 seconds before intermission.
“Those are the type of things you can't do against a good football team,” Keeler said.
With seven backs with at least one carry, Sam Houston rushed 46 times for 351 yards. Ten receivers made at least one catch as the Bearkats threw for 320 yards.
“We kind of got blitzed in the first half,” Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury said. “They hit some good stuff. We had to make some tackles and we didn't”
The turning point in the game came three plays into the third quarter when J. J. Gaines returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown. The Red Raiders out-scored Sam Houston 17-0 in the period.
“A couple of mistakes hurt us, but that big touchdown, that was tough,” Keeler said. “You give up a couple of big plays and they score.”
Texas Tech rolled up 611 yards total offense including 437 in the air.
“Their quarterback Patrick Mahomes played outstanding,” Keeler said. “We knew that he would challenge our corners but he was spot on. I thought he was really aggressive. He's a really good football player and he's going to score a lot of points.
Sam Houston quarterbacks Jared Johnson and Jeremiah Briscoe combined to complete 36 passes. Briscoe was 18-for-24 for 176 yards and Johnson was 18 for 28 with 144 yards.
“They're both very talented,” Keeler said. “They both bring something unique to the table that's tough to defend. If someone gets a hot hand, we're going to go in that direction. If not, then we'll kind of go back and forth a little bit. I'm excited I have got two quarterbacks I can win with, no question.”
After an open date next Saturday, the Bearkats open their 2015 home schedule Saturday Sept. 19 as they face Lamar in Sam Houston's first Southland Conference game of the season.
