University of Arizona
3-2 , 1-1
Texas Tech
5-1 , 3-0
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Tech | 7 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 28 |
| Arizona | 3 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 22 |
Wildcats Drop Big 12 Home Opener to Texas Tech
10/06/2024 | Football
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Tahj Brooks ran for 128 yards and three touchdowns, Jacob Rodriguez forced a late fumble and Texas Tech rallied after blowing a 15-point lead to beat Arizona 28-22 on Saturday night.
Texas Tech (5-1, 3-0 Big 12) got consistent pressure on Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita, forcing him to get rid of the ball quickly or throw it away. The Red Raiders also intercepted two of his passes and forced a turnover on downs deep in their own end while building an 18-3 halftime lead.
The Wildcats' defense kept them within reach, forcing two Brooks' fumbles to take a 19-18 lead early in the fourth quarter.
After Arizona's Tyler Loop missed a 48-yard field goal, Texas Tech finally found a rhythm, setting up Gino Garcia's 41-yard field goal for a 21-19 lead.
Arizona (3-2, 1-1) took over at its own 25 with 2:21 left, but Rodriguez stripped Tetairoa McMillan on the first play and the Red Raiders recovered. Brooks then burst 32 yards up the middle for a touchdown, sending Texas Tech to its fourth straight win since losing to Washington State the second game of the season.
Brooks scored on a 3-yard run in the first quarter and the Red Raiders spent the rest of the half shutting down the Wildcats.
Texas Tech held Arizona to a field goal late in the first quarter, then stopped the Wildcats on fourth-and-1 at the Red Raiders' 20. Texas Tech's Quincy Ledet intercepted a pass by Fifita that was tipped at the line of scrimmage and Brooks followed with his second TD run, from nine yards out.
Fifita had another pass intercepted by CJ Baskerville in the end zone late in the second quarter and Texas Tech marched quickly down the field for Garcia's last-second 30-yard field goal to lead 18-3.
Arizona moved into Texas Tech's end twice in the third quarter - the second after a fumble by Brooks at the 32 - and had to settle for two more field goals.
The Wildcats finally broke through when Quali Conley scored on a 3-yard run and forced another Boyd fumble - after a review overturned the original call - to set up Loop's 37-yard field goal for a 19-18 lead.
UP NEXT
Arizona will play at No. 17 BYU next Saturday, October 12 at 1 p.m. MST on Fox.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
TTU 7, ARI 0
TTU - Brooks,Tahj 3 yd run (Garcia,Gino kick), 5 plays, 61 yards, TOP 02:27
TTU 7, ARI 3
ARI - Loop,Tyler 47 yd field goal 11 plays, 46 yards, TOP 05:16
TTU 15, ARI 3
TTU - Brooks,Tahj 9 yd run (Miller II,Johncarlos rush), 6 plays, 30 yards, TOP 01:13
TTU 18, ARI 3
TTU - Garcia,Gino 30 yd field goal 4 plays, 68 yards, TOP 00:31
TTU 18, ARI 6
ARI - Loop,Tyler 40 yd field goal 9 plays, 56 yards, TOP 02:56
TTU 18, ARI 9
ARI - Loop,Tyler 30 yd field goal 7 plays, 20 yards, TOP 02:08
TTU 18, ARI 16
ARI - Conley,Quali 3 yd run (Loop,Tyler kick), 8 plays, 72 yards, TOP 04:37
TTU 18, ARI 19
ARI - Loop,Tyler 37 yd field goal 6 plays, 25 yards, TOP 04:41
TTU 21, ARI 19
TTU - Garcia,Gino 41 yd field goal 8 plays, 46 yards, TOP 02:31
TTU 28, ARI 19
TTU - Brooks,Tahj 32 yd run (Garcia,Gino kick), 3 plays, 43 yards, TOP 00:19
TTU 28, ARI 22
ARI - Loop,Tyler 52 yd field goal 8 plays, 41 yards, TOP 00:59
