Texas Tech Beats Arizona State in Late-Night Shootout at The Jones [Video, Photos]
Second write-through 12:05am, Sunday, September 17, 2017
It took all 60 minutes of Saturday night's game at Jones AT&T Stadium for the Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-0) to defeat the Arizona State Sun Devils (1-2), 52-45. Saturday's game started after a 65-minute delay due to a thunderstorm that moved through Lubbock.
After the first quarter, Texas Tech had a 21-3 lead over Arizona State, scoring touchdowns on three consecutive possessions.
A quarter later, Texas Tech extended their lead to 35-17 at halftime.
The third quarter saw a heavy amount of scoring, with Arizona State putting up three touchdowns to reduce the deficit to 45-38.
Texas Tech ended up blowing their 18-point halftime lead in the second half, which set up a tense fourth quarter in which the teams were tied at 45. Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury said his team needed to put Arizona State away in the third quarter. However, he was pleased with the resiliency of his team in pulling out the win.
Texas Tech's defense forced a three-and-out against ASU with 6:26 left in the ball game. After receiving the punt, the Texas Tech offense started their drive at the 10-yard line.
Eleven plays later, Dylan Cantrell scored the game-winning touchdown -- on the ground, rather than through the air. On a 3rd & Goal from the ASU 3-yard line, Cantrell took a jet sweep handoff running left to right behind the line of scrimmage. He made his way laterally to the far sideline and then moved forward to the front right corner of the end zone and dove over an ASU defender for the touchdown.
After the game, Cantrell said it was first rushing touchdown since his high school playing days.
With the extra point, Texas Tech went up by seven, 52-45. Texas Tech's defense then made one final stop against the ASU offense to preserve the 52-45 win.
Quarterback Nic Shimonek went 37/50 for 543 yards passing with six touchdowns and no interceptions. Cantrell had eight receptions for 160 yards with two touchdowns, along with the rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Saturday's attendance for the Celebrate Cotton game was 58,547. Next Saturday (Sept. 23), Texas Tech is on the road at Houston with an 11 a.m. kickoff on either ABC or ESPN2. Countdown to Kickoff airs from 9 - 11 a.m. on SportsRadio 1340 The Fan with Rob Breaux, Robert Wright, Levi Fair and Karson Robinson.
See photos from the game below courtesy Ashley Wirz.