Well … I have to eat crow after that crack about Texas Tech having Northwestern out-manned in the inaugural TicketCity Bowl. The Northwestern Wildcats stormed back the second half of play, before succumbing to Tech, 45-38, in an offensive showcase, or a defensive circus depending on who you talk to.
At the half, Tech had dominated Northwestern, outscoring them 24-6.
But Tech lost “the heart and soul” of its defense when linebacker Bront Bird was sidelined with a knee injury in the first half. (Tech also was operating with a new defensive coordinator, inserted just in time for the bowl game.) In a hard-hitting game, Northwestern lost safety Hunter Bates in the fourth quarter. The son of former Dallas Cowboy Bill Bates suffered a broken leg.
After falling behind in the first half, Northwestern traded scores with the Red Raiders in the second half. Northwestern even mimicked the same gadget play Texas Tech used to score in the first half. In the first half, Tech QB Taylor Potts threw a short pass to Austin Zouzalik, who then fired it back to Potts. The QB waltzed in to score untouched … recorded as a run because the pass was thrown laterally. Anywho … great trickeration, so good that Northwestern ran the same play later in the game.
For the day, Potts finished with 43 of 56, for 369 yards and one interception (on a deflected pass through a Tech receiver’s hands). Sharing the signal calling, NW quarterbacks combined for a 13-of-27 performance for 146 yards passing. On the ground the Wildcats gained 229 yards on 50 carries. Texas Tech rushed 29 times for 183 yards, including a third quarter 84-yard burst by Tech running back Eric Stephens — the second longest run from scrimmage in Cotton Bowl bowl game history.
Potts’ former high school teammate led Tech receivers with 10 catches for 118 yards.
In post-game statements, Northwestern Coach Pat Fitgerald challenged his team’s upper classmen to step up and take the program to the next level. First year coach, Texas Tech’s Tommy Tuberville enjoyed the victory, recorded an up-and-down 8-5 season, extended Texas Tech’s bowl success … and this time could joke about yet another onside kick gone awry.
An estimated 40,000 attended the first TicketCityBowl, meaning there were about 50,000 empty seats despite a Texas team playing “at home” — a symptom of a troubled program.
But a win is a win. Congratulations to Texas Tech and kudos to Northwestern for such an exciting finish.
Know what I sayin?
