Texas Tech Outpaces North Texas in Pace
Behren Morton threw four touchdown passes and ran 10 yards for another score as Texas Tech tied a school record with 52 points in the first half of a 66-21 victory over North Texas on Saturday.
Bralyn Lux returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown and Coy Eakin had a 70-yard TD catch as the Red Raiders (2-1) scored seven touchdowns in a span of 13 minutes starting late in the first quarter.
The first-half blitz came after Texas Tech barely survived for an overtime victory in the opener at home against FCS member Abilene Christian and lost handily last week at Washington State.
After giving up 506 yards passing to ACU, the Red Raiders intercepted Chandler Morris three times, including the throw after Lux’s pick-6 when the ball went through receiver Kyle Koch’s hands.
The Mean Green (2-1) pulled within 10-7 when Wyatt Young took a screen pass 75 yards for a score. But Tahj Brooks, who had 109 yards rushing after missing Texas Tech’s loss to the Cougars with an injury, started the 42-0 surge with a 21-yard scoring run on fourth-and-1.
Morton didn’t play after halftime, finishing 15 of 19 for 273 yards without an interception after his two picks were among four Texas Tech turnovers in a 37-16 loss to the Cougars.
Morris, who also had three interceptions in last week’s 35-20 win over Stephen F. Austin, didn’t play the fourth quarter and finished 15 of 27 for 162 yards and two touchdowns.
It was a rough return to Lubbock for second-year UNT coach Eric Morris, who played and coached for the Red Raiders. The Mean Green were 2-0 for the first time since 2018 and had a four-game winning streak.
