Tortillas or no, UT expecting heartburn
AUSTIN — A considerable portion of the 60,454 fans who packed Jones AT&T Stadium on Nov. 10, 2018, wanted to see Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger’s next pass find the hands of someone, anyone wearing a scarlet uniform.
Texas Tech corner DaMarcus Fields could’ve made that collective wish come true, too. But receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey jumped a bit higher, floated a bit longer, wanted that ball a bit more. He plunged across the goal line with 21 seconds left, ball tucked tight to chest, to seal Texas’ 41-34 victory.
Ehlinger is going to miss that unique tortilla-tossing atmosphere this weekend when No. 8 Texas (1-0) returns to Lubbock for its Big 12 opener. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, stadium capacity has been reduced to 25 percent for all Red Raiders home games — 11,157 fans attended the team’s Sept. 12 season opener against Houston Baptist.
“I guess there will be a quarter of the amount of tortillas thrown,” Ehlinger quipped. “So it’s kind of unfortunate. Always a great, great time playing up in Lubbock. They’re always a hostile environment, and I expect it to be the same, but I guess just at 25 percent.”
The diminished fan base didn’t seem too hostile in Texas Tech’s uncomfortable 35-33 win over HoustonBaptist. Huskies quarterback Bailey Zappe completed 30 of 49 passes for 567 yards and four touchdowns and came within a failed 2-point conversion of forcing overtime.
If an FCS quarterback could do that to Tech defensive coordinator Keith Patterson’s unit, what might a Heisman candidate do? Ehlinger is coming off a game in which he threw for 426 yards and five scores in
one half, and the Texas senior has amassed 660 passing yards and seven total touchdowns in two straight wins over the Red Raiders (1-0).
Still, Texas coach Tom Herman is trying to guard against overconfidence as the team chases a Big 12 title.
“We have watched the HBU game numerous times, and I think it’s difficult to get a bead on Texas Tech’s defensive philosophy simply because we know what a potent throwing attack HBU has,” Herman said. “Anytime you’re playing a team that is that heavy on one side or the other, that’s going to affect your defensive game plan.”
The Longhorns are going to score today. The key will be whether defensive coordinator Chris Ash can get
his group to limit the Red Raiders’ fireworks.
Texas Tech redshirt sophomore quarterback Alan Bowman will test the Longhorns’ linebackers, arguably the team’s most uncertain position group heading into the season.
Ash said sophomore Chris Adimora, junior Anthony Cook, junior DeMarvion Overshown and redshirt freshman David Gbenda will need to demonstrate their athleticism.
“Playing a team like this, they put a lot of stress on the perimeter of your defense and the under-coverage in your defense,” Ash said. “That’s why we talk about needing linebackers that can run sideline to sideline and play out in space. That’s why we made those moves with those guys, because we knew we were going to need linebackers that could do that in this league. We’re hoping those moves help us in
games like this.”
Texas can’t afford to stumble before its Oct. 10 meeting with No. 3 Oklahoma (1-0), and escaping Lubbock intact is seldom a stress-free experience. Texas Tech has plenty of gamebreaking playmakers, from tailback SaRodorick Thompson to wideouts KeSean Carter, T.J. Vasher and Erik Ezukanama.
The Longhorns also will be without their top two slot receivers, sophomore Jake Smith (hamstring) and redshirt freshman Jordan Whittington (meniscus).
“This will be a good test of in-game adjustments for us,” Herman said. “I would imagine they’re going to play us a bit differently than their defensive game plan for Houston Baptist. But I do think there’s a quiet confidence. Our guys know what they’re capable of.”