Junior running back Jarred Craft tries to avoid the Texas Tech Red Raider defense during the Bulldogs’ 59-45 defeat in Lubbock last Saturday. Craft rushed for a career high 151 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown in the game. – Photo by Tom Morris/LATechSportsPix.com
Alex Heard
Staff Reporter | amh072@latech.edu
Someone send out an amber alert and check the back of milk cartons.
No, someone is not missing but rather something is: defense.
For head coach Skip Holtz and his Louisiana Tech football team, their defense was nowhere to be found Saturday night in Lubbock, Texas, against Texas Tech as they lost a 59-45 shootout.
Tech allowed 666 yards of total offense to the Red Raiders.
Holtz said the defense put up quite the comedic performance, as defensive backs ran into each other and at times were nowhere around Texas Tech receivers as they scored touchdowns.
“I thought our defense was a joke,” Holtz said. “I can handle zone defense and them catching a ball and we’re there to try and make a tackle. But when you throw a ball down the field and there’s nobody there within 20 yards with the number of times they caught the ball, that’s a joke.
Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes had a field day against the Tech defense as he threw for 470 yards and five touchdowns.
Holtz said he has been around the game of football for quite some time and Tech’s defensive performance was something for the ages.
“That was as bad of a defensive performance as I’ve ever seen, as I’ve ever been a part of,” Holtz said. “I’m embarrassed.”
Ryan Higgins, senior quarterback for Tech, said he has not lost any confidence in Tech’s defense despite their poor play.
“No. I mean, I wouldn’t say it’s embarrassing. It sucks and we’re all upset, but I know what my defense can do and I know the players we have and I know the mistakes they can correct,” Higgins said. “I trust them moving on in the season.”
There were silver linings to be found in the game. Jarred Craft ran for a career-high 153 yards. Trent Taylor had seven catches for 166 yards and Carlos Henderson had nine grabs for 130 yards, both living up to their places on the preseason Biletnikoff Award Watch List.
Things do not get any easier for Tech’s passing defense as they face the sixth ranked passing offense of Middle Tennessee State next.
The Blue Raiders average 370.7 passing yards a game and will hope to keep their foot on the gas pedal against Tech. Being that their offensive coordinator Tony Franklin was once at Tech, Middle Tennessee may try to be ruthless against the Bulldogs.
Tech plays Middle Tennessee State in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on at 6 p.m. on Saturday night.