The Texas Tech Red Raiders Blow out the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks in Their Home Opener 61-13

The Texas Tech Red Raiders kicked off their home opener this Saturday against the Lumberjacks of Stephen F. Austin as they unveiled the brand new 100 foot long video screen.  The game was set to kick off at 6 pm but due to lightning the game did not get underway until just before 7.

SFA got the ball to start the game but the defense held strong forcing them to punt.  That gave to ball to the reigning Big 12 offensive player of the week and walk on freshman starter Baker Mayfield.  It didn't take him long to get going as he connected with Jakeem Grant on a 42 yard touchdown pass on their opening drive to put Tech up 7-0.  Kenny Williams finally got the running game going as he scored on a one yard touchdown run and with 9:08 left to go in the first quarter, the score was 14-0.

The Lumberjacks would strike back after that with a trick play that would go 75 yards and bring them within seven.  Other than that play the defense held strong for the majority of the game.  The Red Raider offense struck back as well though with a 25 yard touchdown pass from Mayfield to Jace Amaro (Pictured Above) for his first TD catch of the season.  That put Texas Tech up 21-7 with 4:27 left in the first quarter.

Jace's size dominated the SFA defense as they had no answer for the 6'6 260 lb tight end.  He would end up with a team high 142 yards receiving on eight receptions.

Head Coach Kingsbury finally got the production he was looking for from his run game.  With 3:44 left in the first, Kenny Williams capped off another Tech drive with a 18 yard run to put the Red Raiders up 28-7.  After one quarter of play the score was Texas Tech 28, SFA 7.

Kerry Hyder got the second quarter off with a bang as he hit the SFA running back in the back field for a three yard loss.  They would go three and out and were forced to punt.  They would do so nine times through out the ball game.

It wouldn't be until 8:14 left in the second for the Tech offense to find the end zone again as Baker Mayfield hooked up with Bradley Marquez on a 60 yard pass, which was Baker's longest TD pass of the year so far, to put the Red Raiders up 35-7.

The next Texas Tech drive would start well but struggle in the red zone as Ryan Bustin was forced to come in a make a 28 yard field goal to put Tech up 38-7.  DeAndre Washington would cap off the first half with a two yard touchdown run to put the halftime score at 45-7.

At the half the Kliff Kingsbury offense had quite a pile of impressive stats.  They ran 57 plays for 523 yards and averaged 9.2 yard a play.  They also compiled 156 yards on the ground which was a liability in last weeks win.  Baker also had himself a fine first half throwing for 367 yards and three touchdowns. He not only dominated the Lumberjacks through the air, but on the ground as well.  He added 66 yards of rushing in his half of football.

Davis Webb would start the third quarter at the quarterback position as the backups got the majority of the reps in the second half.  He looked good early in his first drive as he looked consistent but an ill-advised throw would put the ball in the hands of the Lumberjacks as they picked off the red-shirt freshman.

Carlos Thompson gave the team a spark when he returned a punt past the midfield to give the offense a great field position.  Some more errant throws from Webb would squander the good field position however and forced the team to punt with 8:55 left in the third.

The team would get a break though as the SFA backup quarterback threw the ball backwards into the end zone for a safety to extend Tech's lead to 47-7.  Off the punt from the safety, Carlos Thompson was at it again as he took it for 73 yards that set up a five yard touchdown run by Quinton White JR. to put the Red Raiders up 54-7.

Davis Webb would finally get on a roll as he hit Reginald Davis for a 23 yard touchdown pass late in the third.  He unfortunately would throw another interception giving him two for the game.

Stephen F. Austin would add a late score with 7:30 left in the fourth but would miss the field goal to make the score 61-13.  That would be how the game ended as the Red Raiders move to 2-0 on the year.  The SFA Lumberjacks fall to 0-2 on the season.  They will begin conference play next week as the TCU Horned Frogs come to town on Thursday, September 12th.  Kickoff for that game is set for 6:30 pm from Jones AT&T stadium and can be seen on ESPN.