Fast recap: Kansas blown out in second half by Texas Tech

Kansas rebounded after it was put in a 21-0 hole, scoring 17 straight to be down just four heading into halftime. Behren Morton left the game with injury, and it felt like the Jayhawks were turning the tide. However, Texas Tech scored 14 straight and secured a 42-17 win in Lubbock on Saturday.

The Red Raiders got great production from their run game, relying on it after Morton’s injury. Cameron Dickey broke off two touchdown runs of more than 55 yards and 263 for the game. Texas Tech tallied 372 of their 505 yards on the ground.

Jalon Daniels put together a strong statistical performance, completing 27 of 33 passes for 228 yards. However, Kansas allowed nine sacks, struggled to find a consistent run game and go on drives in the second half. The Jayhawks were on the opposing side of a second-half shutout this week.

First quarter: Texas Tech races out to early lead

Kansas tallied a couple of first downs to start its first drive, with Boden Groen hauling in a 10-yard catch. However, Texas Tech’s defense quickly asserted itself and forced Kansas to punt. David Bailey got home on third down, sacking Jalon Daniels for a 15-yard loss after the Jayhawks got near midfield.

The Red Raiders’ explosive offense struck immediately, as Cameron Dickey had a wide-open hole on an inside zone and took it 71 yards to the house. Texas Tech had a 7-0 lead after its first offensive play.

Things instantly went from bad to worse. Kansas inserted Cole Ballard for the designed QB run the Jayhawks have implemented in recent weeks, but he coughed up the football. Bailey was again in the middle of a big play, recovering the fumble and placing Texas Tech’s offense on the 36.

The Red Raiders extended their lead with ease. Dickey had another explosive run of 12 yards before Kansas forced a third down. The Jayhawks brought pressure but failed to get home, leaving Terrance Carter Jr. wide open for a 21-yard touchdown. A trick play on the point-after made it a 15-0 Texas Tech lead not even halfway into the first quarter.

Kansas looked completely out-classed, going three-and-out and getting marched down the field. Texas Tech made everything look easy as the Jayhawks racked up missed tackles. Kansas kept the Red Raiders out of the red zone, but a 25-yard field goal made the score 18-0.

Second quarter: Kansas gets back into the game after Behren Morton’s injury

Morton picked apart the Kansas defense, completing passes of 21 and 26 points. However, Texas Tech’s drive once again stalled in the red zone. Leroy Harris III got home on a third-down sack, and Morton injured his ankle. Stone Harrington made a 40-yard field goal to extend the Red Raiders’ lead to 21-0.

Kansas’ offense came to life, getting the passing game going. Daniels completed four passes to four receivers, along with picking up a first down with his legs. Leshon Williams hauled in a 10-yard touchdown out of the backfield to get the Jayhawks on the board.

Will Hammond came into the game after Morton’s injury and struggled on his first drive. He missed a pair of passes as Kansas forced a three-and-out and Texas Tech’s first punt of the game.

The Jayhawks had a chance to make it a one-score game, but they failed to pick up a first down to start their drive. Emmanuel Henderson Jr. dropped a third down pass to force Kansas’ fourth punt in six drives.

The defense gave the offense another opportunity to get back into the game. Lyric Rawls’ pass breakup forced a third and long, then Taylor Davis picked off Hammond to give the Jayhawks the ball at midfield with 2:21 to play in the first half.

Cam Pickett picked up 14 yards on a tunnel screen and 19 on an RPO to get the Jayhawks into scoring position. Another sack from Bailey put Kansas behind the sticks, but Daniels found the wide-open Boden Groen for a 24-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 21-14.

The Jayhawks got a stop and the ball back at their 34 with 28 seconds left in the half. Daniel Hishaw picked up 17 yards on the ground on the first play of the drive. Three straight short passes to Groen, who finished with 13 catches- a program record by a tight end, set up a 55-yard field goal try for Laith Marjan. He nailed the career-high kick to give Kansas 17 unanswered points heading into halftime, trailing 21-17.

Third quarter: Texas Tech ground game extends the lead

Morton came out of the half in street clothes, leaving Hammond as the Red Raider’s quarterback for the remainder of the game. Bangally Kamara blew up a third-and-short run to get the Jayhawks’ defense off the field. Jack Burgess’ punt pinned Kansas inside its own 10.

Texas Tech’s defense rebounded, forcing Kansas to punt. The Red Raiders swallowed up a Williams run on third-and-one to tally their sixth TFL of the game.

Hammond started to use his legs as Texas Tech started to get its offense rolling again. Dickey gashed the defense for a 24-yard gain on the ground before back-to-back keepers on zone reads got Hammond into the end zone. He rushed for 34 yards on two plays to extend the Red Raiders lead to 28-17.

Both defenses looked to assert themselves, with each team forcing a three-and-out.

Daniels completed a 26-yard pass to Pickett as the Jayhawks neared midfield. Kansas tried play action under center on third and short, but Daniels was sacked for a nine-yard loss. In no man’s land, Daniels pooch punted yet it resulted in a touchback.

Fourth quarter: Red Raiders defense finishes off second-half shutout

Hammond picked up 14 yards with his legs as Texas Tech started to get its drive going. Dickey hit another home run on the ground, a 60-yard touchdown, to make the score 35-17 and further out of reach of the Jayhawks.

Texas Tech had another tortilla-throwing enforced penalty to place Kansas at the 40 to start its drive. A defensive holding, Texas Tech’s sixth penalty of the game, kept the Jayhawks alive on third down. Kansas then had a pair of holdings before Bailey’s third sack forced Kansas into a third-and-38. Finn Lappin punted after a 12-yard run from Daniel Hishaw.

The Red Raiders extended their lead late with another rushing touchdown from Hammond. He reached the end zone from 10 yards out, running over Austin Alexander in the process.

Ballard subbed in at quarterback with the game out of hand and got the Jayhawks into the red zone before he was rocked for Texas Tech’s ninth sack of the game.