It's Sean Dillon and I'm here at The Jones aka Jones AT&T Stadium for tonight's game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Northwestern State Demons.
The fans are filing in and I'll be giving you my thoughts as I'm watching the game.
A quick reminder. The views of the following are those of me and not necessarily those of Wilks Broadcasting, Texas Tech or a sane person. Void where prohibited by law, you must be 18 and of sound mind and will to enjoy this coverage.
The student section is filling up and the band has been moved into section 26. It seems smaller but I'm sure that if you are a team that have to drive toward the Double T section that it is going to be an incredibly intense and intimitating place.
The students are going in force and they have mostly worn red with some black mixed in.
Not everyone was prepared for the newest addition to the Texas Tech gameday experience with the rockets RED glare , fireworks came from behind the video board.
They are now honoring the inaugural class of the Texas Tech Ring of Honor
Donny Anderson
E.J. Holub
Dave Parks
It is amazing to see all the students standing and applauding those who have come long before they were even a twinkle in their fathers eye.
Three legendary Texas Tech players who have led the team to win after win. Now it's time for the new potential legends to make their appearance.
The 2012 Texas Tech Red Raiders have hit the field and your captains for this game are:
Seth Doege
Michael Brewer
D.J. Johnson
NW have won the toss and they will receive. Tech will defend the South goal.
#45 Kramer Fyfe, one of the multiple sophmores that will help this team this year, will kick off and the touchback count is now 1.
Let's see what the RR Defense has up their sleeve.
The Demons start out at the 25 and a broken screen will move them back to the 22.
The 1st penalty of the season is an offsides and the first 3rd and long for the defense and THEY WILL HOLD!
Time for Le Punt (TM CNI Industries)
The punt goes to the 36 and the Red Raiders will start their first offensive series.
Eric Ward takes a screen over the middle and goes for 15. The Raiders are rolling.
After a roughing penalty Doege throws a INT that is returned to the RR 36. The defense is called on once again to hold.
Another defensive offsides results in a first down for the Demons at the Tech 24. 2nd penalty, both offsides. Coaches just call lining up penalties "Stupid Yards".
Demons will line up for 38 yard field goal.
38 yard field goal is wide left and Red Raider Fans are beyond happy.
2nd time for the RR offense, and they will start at their own 21.
After 2 series for the Demons they have more yards (49) on the interception return or penalties from the Red Raiders (10) than they have passing (-3).
Raider Vision put up the Air Raid graphics and sounded the Air Raid horn, yet ran twice. However a great catch by Bradley Marquez for 13 yards moved the chains.
I'm liking the return of Eric Stephens. He has the quick moves and doesn't seem to be afraid of moving inside or outside with a quick change.
6 minutes left in the first and we are scoreless as NW State takes their first time out.
Eric Stephens picks up the first down and passes the 1500 yard career rushing total. Last players to have 1500 career rushing yards for Tech? Baron Batch!
Doege doesn't seem to be picking up the receivers as he has done in the past but with the exception of the one pick seems to be keeping the ball where only the Red Raiders can catch it.
1st and Goal at the 6 and I smell a fade!
Doege to Kennard on the fade for a Red Raider TOUCHDOWN!
Or is it?
Official REVIEW time on the field.
Better reload the fireworks... NO TOUCHDOWN!
So Red Raiders reload and Eric Stephens into paydirt! TOUCHDOWN RED RAIDERS! 16 plays 79 yards 6:35
Extra point is good and with 2:50 left in the first 7-0 Red Raiders.
After yet ANOTHER touchback, the Red Raider defense is called to make an impact.
Horse collar tackles used to be legal, but no longer and the Demons are on their own 45.
The defense which used to give up running yards by bunches and bunches this year only have allowed 10 yards this quarter.
If you ignore the last 90 seconds where the Demons tacked on 40 yards of passing they would have had -3 yards.
The new rule of an player losing his helmet came into play. Demon players lost his helmet and will have to stay out one play.
End of 1 Tech 7 - Demons 0
Kick for rent : Guy, miss short Girl , killed worms.
Ready for yet another long kick for the Demons? 47 yard FG attempt is up and... (no fireworks guys remember) it is good.
14:48 left in the first half and Red Raiders lead 7-3 in a barn burner.
Touchback and the Red Raiders will start at the 25.
Eric Stephens makes the corner and is pulled down by a horse collar tackle which moves the chains to the RR 46.
Coach Tuberville wants to have the Demons bring 9 to the box as he continues to pound running play after running play which has opened up open 9 yard passes to Eric Ward.
Red Raiders have continued to drive to the Demons 28.
You bring in 9 to the box and Doege finds Kenny Williams for 21 to the 2.
DOEGE to Williams... Penalty RR
DOEGE to KENNARD... Penalty Demons
Back to the 2.
Eric Stephens over the left side for a RR Touchdown.
With 11:16 left in the 1st Half Red Raiders 14 - Demons 3
10 plays 75 yards in 3:32
What happens when you return a RR kickoff from the end zone? You start out at the 17.
Demons go Le Punt and Red Raiders take over at the Demon 49.
Pass here, pass there. The Red Raiders are rolling, not as much as the Cowboys of Oklahoma State who are making Savannah State earn that check. 35-0 with 1 min left in the first quarter.
Eric Stephens with another run, his 10th for 43 total yards.
Up the middle by SaDale Foster for a Red Raider First Down from the Demon 16 and we have an injury time out with 7:57 left in the 1st half.
Normally a Red Raider game seems to be a shootout, but Coach Tuberville is forcing the Demons to respect the run, something that teams didn't have to do last year after the season ending injury to Stephens.
Pass to Jason Morrow and I smell a fade coming up.
FADE, but incomplete to Ward. I QB1'ed the call but just didn't get the bonus pts.
1st & Goal from the Demon 4 after a short run up the middle and before they run a play, we have a NW State time out.
6:43 left in the 2nd and it's still Tech 14- NW State 3.
As we return to action ... Doege in the shotgun, hands off to Kenny Williams and the fireworks will have to wait until Williams gets the ball again. But 3 different flags are all over the place. Illegal substitution by the Demons and LET THE FIREWORKS FLY!
TOUCHDOWN RED RAIDERS. The extra point is good, and the Red Raiders have firmed up their control of their demons and the NW State Demons 21-3 with 6:16 left in the half.
The drive took 12 plays 49 yards in 4:06.
The third touchback of the year for Kramer Fyfe and the Demons will start at their own 25.
After 3 downs and a cloud of tiny rubber, the Demons punt and the Red Raiders will start at their own 18 with 4:15 left in the first half.
Pass to Jakeem Grant, love the effort for the YAC (yards after catch).
Tack on a 15 yard penalty for personal foul and the Red Raiders continue their drive at the 39.
Alex Torres finally gets into the catch parade for 4 yards.
Bradley Marquez makes a great catch and yet ANOTHER PF penalty for the Demons move it to the Demon 33 yard line.
So what do you do when the defense is looking at your recievers?
YOU RUN THE BALL!
Eric Stephens for 6.
Then you throw a underneath pass to Jace Amaro and take ten yards and a first down at the 17.
Right now, the only defense that is threatening the Red Raiders is the time clock.
2nd and 7 at the 14 and only 87 ticks left until halftime.
At halftime we have pictures from CGEye Photography/1000 Watt Photography for you.
Field Goal is good! Red Raiders make it 24-3 with 1:15 left.
11 plays, 68 yards in 3 minutes.
At the end of the half, Tech 24- N.W. State 3
I LOVE THE ALUMNI BAND! Period!
Javon Bell during pregame warmups.
Phillip Harvey being driven back by Terrance Bullitt
Bullitt making yet another great tackle.
Defense is seeking the ball!
Kenny Williams wants the end zone...
But the O Line won't be satisfied until the team reaches a touchdown.
2nd Half will start with a touchback Red Raiders will start at the 25.
DRAWWWWWW for 1.
Incomplete pass and...
DRAW for 8.
Le Punt!
Demons start from their own 25.
3 and Out... Yawn!!!
Le Punt! Fair catch at the RR 16 and time to DRIVE down the field Red Raiders!
While photos were being uploaded the Red Raiders drive down to the Demon 19 but fails on a 3rd and short. The resulting Ryan Bustin 36 yard FG is up and good.
Red Raider have had 64 plays for 318 yards while the Demons have 31 plays fro 72 yards. 6:16 left in 3rd, Red Raiders 27-3.
Demons start their second drive of the second half.
Members of the media are asking if the crew working today's game are replacement officials.
They are not.
When asked what the difference between the 2007 Tech vs NW. State game and the 2012 game. One word came to mind. Pirates.
NW State tries to run but Tech has more penalty yards (30) than NW State has rushing yards (20).
Time for a patented NW State Le Punt to the Red Raider 1 inch line.
The 50,236 in attendance look more like the chair that Clint Eastwood interviewed at the Republican National Convention.
As the media struggles to find a unique way of staying awake during the game, I have found out that the locker room for NW State was featured in Steel Magnolias.
It's that bad, the media have ALMOST started a Marco Polo game.
Doege back from his own end zone and the o-line turns to Doege and says "he will not touch you sir."
Pass complete to the 11 for a first down.
Now it's time for the Eric Stephens show.
Eric Stephens to the left. Eric Stephens to the right. Eric Stephens up the middlllllllll WAIT A MOMENT WE'VE GOT A FUMBLE!
NW State recovers and will start at the Red Raider 19. For one play and one play only. D.J. Johnson says you won't be in my Red Zone AGAIN with a SACK back to the 27.
Ater an incomplete pass, it's 3rd and Tulsa and QB Brad Henderson is asking for the whistle to be blown SACK to the 29.
Ready for a John Shaughnessy Demon Field Goal?
Well, the Demons aren't and they have let time expire in the third.
The 46 yard FG is UP and GOOD!
What happens when you're up 27-6 in the 4th ? You bring up RS Frosh Michael Brewer to get some snaps.
Then you get a big pass and a 17 yard run by Kenny Williams followed by a 14 yard pass to Jordan Davis and if I say it I might get kicked out of my seat... who cares... THIS BREWER KID IS GOOD!
As soon as I say that he nearly gets his head taken off on a 7 yard sack!
N.W. State takes the time out because they REALLY think they can score 21 against our defense.
Kenny Williams on a 3rd and 17 for 11 and time for Ryan Bustin to attempt a 37 yard FG attempt which then causes Tech to take a time out.
The Tech scoring drive was 7 plays 55 yards in 2:42
30-6 and most of the fans have left in search for great food from around the South Plains and the nearest cold one.
NW State won't go quietly into the night as they return the kick to their on 36 yard line.
But two plays a recovered fumble will cause a NW State Le Punt.
Austin Zouzalik returns the punt 19 yards to the RR 37.
Brewer wants to pass but the team needs him to hand it to SaDale Foster to the left. Brewer gets his way with a nice pass for a Red Raider first down. But Coach asks SaDale to run again. Brewer wants another pass and delivers to Jordan Davis.
I'll say it. I want FIREWORKS!
We love the fireworks but are concerned that the 3 for a FG and 6 for a TD was confusing to the fireworks official earlier in the game. But I think during a big game this is a VERY COOL addition to Red Raider Football!
Brewer passes to Foster and tick, tick, tick time is bailing on the Demons.
Two runs up the middle and after 4th and 1 the fans are begging for Coach to go for it.
He was convinced and SaDale Foster gets the first down.
Tick... tick... tick...
NW State finally takes a time out.
I'm waiting for FIREWORKS before I leave. I DEMAND FIREWORKS!
A roughing a passer penalty and we have 1st and 10 at the 12.
WE WANT FIREWORKS!!!!
Brewer, give us FIREWORKS!
FIREWORKS!!!!!! TOUCHDOWN RED RAIDERS BREWER TO KENNARD!
Stick a fork in this one. It's done.
Ryan Bustin tacks on the EP and with 5:46 left in the game It's 37-6 Red Raiders.
It's been fun and I'm heading down to the field.
Thanks for coming to Rock101.FM for our coverage of the Red Raiders ALL SEASON LONG!
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