Texas Tech Narrowly Avoids Getting Zapped by FCS Opponent

Texas Tech was favored against Houston Baptist by more than 40 points. The Big 12 program was expected to dominate the FCS program from whistle to whistle. If you watched the game on Saturday, that did not happen.

Huskies QB Bailey Zappe absolutely torched the Red Raider defense on route to the improbably close game on opening weekend.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders started sharp against Houston Baptist, scoring a touchdown on their opening drive, needing only five plays to cover the 75 yards needed. Texas Tech's defense would then bend a little before tightening up on Houston Baptist's opening drive, holding them to a field goal.

From that point on, the first half would play out pretty evenly. Bowman would throw a pick and the Red Raiders would punt a few times around a touchdown drive. The Huskies would do the same, except their interception came inside the 10-yard line on a running back pass.

The Red Raiders would score a third touchdown in the first half and get a pivotal goal-line stand to close the first half and head into halftime, 21-10.

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The second half was a roller coaster of emotions for Texas Tech fans. Houston Baptist would strike first in the second half with a field goal, making it 21-13 in favor of Texas Tech. The Huskies would then get the ball back and score on a 65-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-20 with more than five minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Texas Tech would appear to turn the corner, scoring two consecutive touchdowns, but Houston Baptist didn't back down. With the Red Raiders up 35-20, Zappe and the Huskies would score on a one-play, 75-yard bomb, making it 35-28.

The Red Raiders would drive the ball to the four-yard line before getting stalled on a 4th and short. Head Coach Matt Wells would call a time out and, instead of sending the field goal unit out there to make it an 11-point game, called a quarterback sneak that was stuffed.

Zappe would respond with a quick 96-yard drive and add another 6-yard touchdown pass to push the score to 35-33. Houston Baptist then failed to convert a two-point conversion.

Red Raider SaRodorick Thompson would run the clock out with a few solid runs and Houston Baptist wouldn't get the ball back.

Zappe finished with 567 yards and four touchdown passes. His team fell to 0-2. Texas Tech, on the other hand, moved to 1-0 on the season -- something that Iowa State and Kansas State can't say after Week 1.

Was the win pretty? No. But the Red Raiders escaped a close one against an FCS opponent and now have two weeks to prepare for a game against Texas in Lubbock on September 26th, 2020.