2021 Week 1: Red Raiders come up short at home, fall 20-17 to the Wisconsin Badgers

[rcarlson77]

The Texas Tech football team opened up their 2021 campaign with a difficult matchup against the ninth ranked Wisconsin Badgers. Coming into the season, there were a lot of unknowns about this squad and how they might fare this season. Most pundits do not think highly of this Red Raiders squad, citing a lack of true difference makers at many positions, most importantly at quarterback.

 

Texas Tech got on the scoreboard first as Luis Terdoslavich, El Terdo as he is lovingly referred to amongst his teammates, connected on a 52 yard field goal to make the score 3-0 roughly halfway through the first quarter. That would be the only score of the quarter as both teams struggled offensively. The Badgers would tie it at 3-3 early in the second quarter with a field goal of their own.

 

The Red Raider offense would show some life near the mid-point of the second quarter as star running back, Fernando Gonzalez, broke free for a 74 yard run before being caught from behind and tackled at the one-yard line. Quarterback Reggie Chavis would connect with wide receiver Neil Faulkner on the next play for the one-yard touchdown pass. Texas Tech would head into the locker room with a 10-3 lead, something very few would have predicted.

 

To start the second half, both teams would trade possessions early with neither offense clicking. The Badgers would pull even with 9:50 left in the third quarter as quarterback Austin Bishop connected with wide receiver Alex Williams on a 51 yard touchdown pass. Texas Tech could get nothing going offensively and would be held scoreless in the third quarter resulting in a 10-10 tie with one quarter remaining.

 

The Badgers would seize momentum early in the fourth quarter by blocking a Red Raider punt deep in their territory. Bishop would connect for his second touchdown pass of the day just one play later. In the blink of an eye, the Badgers were in front 17-10.

 

Trailing 17-10, Gonzalez would break free for his second big run off the day, only this time no one would catch him as he scored from 50 yards out to even the score at 17-17 with just 6:16 left in the game. For the Red Raider faithful, there was reason to believe the squad could come away with a big upset in Lubbock.

 

Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. Wisconsin would march down the field on the next possession before settling for a chip shot field goal to put them out front 20-17. With 2:48 remaining, Texas Tech would need to drive the length of the field for a chance to tie or win the game. Quarterback Reggie Chavis was able to move the offense into Wisconsin territory, but the Red Raiders ran out of steam and were unable to convert before giving the ball back to Wisconsin who promptly ran out the remaining clock.

 

It was a valiant effort from a team that very few gave a chance prior to kickoff. Though the game ended in a loss, first year coach rcarlson77 was pleased with his teams effort. “I thought our guys played about as well as we could have hoped for. That was a great team we lined up against and we gave them everything they could handle. It just wasn’t enough. We just weren’t clicking offensively so we’ll have to look at the tape and figure out what wasn’t working. I’m proud of the guys, but there’s no doubt that this one stings a bit for everyone.”

 

The Red Raiders were led by senior running back, Fernando Gonzalez, who finished the day with 31 carries for 175 yards and one touchdown. Quarterback Reggie Chavis was quiet through the air completing 14 of 24 passes for only 106 yards and one touchdown. Texas Tech will certainly need more production from him moving forward. Wide receiver, Neil Faulkner finished with 8 catches on 9 targets for 59 yards and one touchdown.

 

Texas Tech will make the long trek north to East Lansing for another matchup against a top 10 opponent as they take on the seventh ranked Michigan State Spartans.