Texas Tech Buries Ole Miss in the TaxAct Texas Bowl

The Red Raiders’ defense forced another turnover on downs and got the ball back to their offense at Ole Miss’s 27-yard line. Texas Tech went on a 7-play, 27-yard drive to score the game’s first touchdown. Ole Miss forced the Red Raiders into 4th and goal at the 1-yard line, but Tyler Shough barreled his way into the end zone to score 7-0.

Ole Miss responded with a touchdown on the ensuing drive. QB Jaxson Dart connected with Dayton Wade for 37 yards to get the ball into Texas Tech territory. Four plays later, Zach Evans punched the ball into the end zone from eight yards out. 

Texas Tech’s defense did not allow another point in the first half after the initial touchdown. They forced two interceptions in a row, a fumble, and another 4th down stop to end the half. The Red Raiders capitalized on those takeaways by scoring an additional 19 points before the break. 

After the second interception, Tech started with the ball at Ole Miss’s 9-yard line. It took all four plays of the series, but Shough got into the end zone on 4th down for his second touchdown.

The Red Raiders then capped off a 5-play, 37-yard drive with a 12-yard passing touchdown from Shough to WR Jerand Bradley with 28 seconds to go in the half. The Red Raiders headed to the locker room up 26-7.

Ole Miss made a valiant effort in the second half but never managed to get out of their own way. Every time they did something positive on either side of the ball, a turnover or failed 4th down conversion would cancel it out. 

The Rebels scored on their opening drive of the second half going 80 yards in 10 plays. Jaxson Dart hit Jordan Watkins for a 10-yard score. A failed 2-point conversion left the score at 26-13.

Texas Tech struggled early in the second half by missing a field goal and coughing up two fumbles, but critical stops by the defense allowed the Red Raiders to put up a field goal and two more touchdowns.

Ole Miss finally got back into the game late in the 4th quarter on a 9-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 19-yard pass from Dart to WR Malik Heath to put the Rebels within ten points. They trailed 35-25 with 3:10 remaining in the contest. 

Ole Miss needed to recover an onside kick to continue the comeback. The Rebels lined up and kicked it, but they kicked directly to Star Wideout Loic Fouonji. Fouonji snagged the ball and sprinted the remaining 44 yards to the house. Texas Tech led 42-25, and Ole Miss never threatened again. 

Tyler Owens intercepted Jaxson Dart for a final time, and Shough kneeled out the clock. Texas Tech dominated the Rebels on both sides of the football all night and won decisively 42-25.

Tyler Shough was the player of the game. He went 24-39 for 242 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also added 111 yards on the ground on 25 carries and two touchdowns.

Tahj Brooks added 90 yards rushing on 14 carries.

Loci Fouonji led Red Raiders in receiving with seven catches for 100 yards. 

First-year Head Coach Joey McGuire ends his rookie campaign at 8-5. This was the best record set by any Texas Tech first-year head coach since Kliff Kingsbury in 2013. McGuire also led the Red Raiders to victory against both the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns in the same season for the first time in school historyl McGuire signed a 6-year contract on Wednesday worth 26.6 million dollars, and the future looks bright for these Red Raiders after the win.