abcnews
In a dramatic Big 12 Conference opener on Friday night, No. 13 Texas Tech held off a late charge from No. 22 Houston to secure a 28-26 victory. The game came down to the final minute when Houston quarterback Conner Weigman's two-point conversion attempt fell just short, preserving the win for the defending Big 12 champions.
Weigman had connected with Patrick Overmyer on a 10-yard touchdown pass with 49 seconds remaining, pulling the Cougars (2-1, 0-1) within two points. On the ensuing two-point try, Weigman scrambled to his left and lunged toward the end zone, but replay officials determined his knee was down before the ball crossed the goal line. The review process was broadcast on Fox Sports, giving viewers unprecedented access to the Big 12 replay officials' discussion at conference headquarters.
Texas Tech (3-0, 1-0) found themselves in an early 10-0 hole just 9 1/2 minutes into their first Friday home game since 1941. Will Hammond, the Red Raiders' primary quarterback, completed 17 of 27 passes for 257 yards and a touchdown. He connected with Kenny Johnson on a 28-yard pass to convert a third-and-12, and the duo later hooked up for a 35-yard score a minute into the second quarter. Johnson finished with four receptions for 113 yards.
Houston struck first with a 31-yard field goal by Jonathan Dimas on the opening drive. The Cougars quickly regained possession when Will James made a nifty interception along the sideline after Tommy Castellanos, who started in place of Hammond, attempted to throw the ball away under pressure. That set up an 11-yard touchdown catch by Amare Thomas, who twisted and extended the ball over the goal line while being tackled. Initially ruled short, the play was overturned to a score after replay review, giving Houston a 10-0 lead.
Castellanos, a transfer from Florida State and Boston College who joined the team just a week before the season opener, did not take another snap until his 3-yard touchdown run with 3:39 left in the game.
After managing only two carries for 5 yards in the first half, J'Koby Williams exploded in the second half with consecutive runs of 19, 5, and 29 yards. His final burst, a 29-yard scamper through the left side, was virtually untouched as he reached the end zone to give Texas Tech a 21-17 lead just 2 1/2 minutes into the third quarter. Cameron Dickey added a 1-yard scoring run with 7:36 remaining in the game.
Houston had taken a 17-14 lead just before halftime when Koby Young made an over-the-shoulder catch, pinning the ball against his shoulder pads while falling over the pylon for a 46-yard touchdown.
Weigman finished the game 27 of 38 for 282 yards and three touchdowns. The Cougars, who were 6-0 in road games last season on their way to a 10-win campaign, rushed for 104 yards by halftime and finished with 176. That marked the first time in seven games that Texas Tech's defense allowed over 100 rushing yards, ending the longest such streak in FBS.
For Texas Tech, the win marked their 10th consecutive home victory, though it was the first time in that stretch they allowed more than 17 points. It is their longest home winning streak since a 12-game run from 2007-09.
Both teams will play their final nonconference game at home on Sept. 26. Houston hosts Georgia Southern, while Texas Tech takes on Sam Houston.
Key Analysis
Texas Tech's ability to overcome an early 10-0 deficit and secure a crucial conference win demonstrates their resilience as defending Big 12 champions. The late-game replay review, which was broadcast to viewers, highlighted the transparency efforts by the Big 12. Houston's strong rushing attack, which surpassed 100 yards by halftime, ended Texas Tech's impressive streak of holding opponents under 100 yards. The Red Raiders' 10th straight home win is a testament to their home-field advantage, though the defense showed some vulnerability by allowing more than 17 points for the first time in that span. Both teams will look to fine-tune their performances in their final nonconference matchups before resuming conference play.
Originally reported by abcnews.