A Decisive Home Performance
Texas Tech Red Raiders (7-1) secured a 34-26 victory over the Arizona Wildcats (6-2) on Saturday, October 31, at Galaxy Stadium. The game featured a high-scoring affair with 60 combined points, driven significantly by the Red Raiders' balanced offensive attack.
With an attendance of 59,131, the home crowd witnessed a contest where Texas Tech controlled the final two quarters to pull away from an early deficit. The decisive factor was the Red Raiders' ability to sustain long drives and capitalize on scoring opportunities in the second half, ultimately outscoring the Wildcats 24-9 after the third quarter ended in a tie.
Scoring Sequence and Key Moments
Arizona opened the scoring with a 35-yard field goal by Michael Salgado-Medina in the first quarter. Texas Tech responded immediately, as Thomas Castellanos connected with Terrance Carter Jr. on a 24-yard pass for a touchdown, giving the home team a 7-3 lead.
The Wildcats retook the lead in the second quarter when Noah Fifita found Isaiah Mizell for a 94-yard touchdown, followed by Kedrick Reescano’s 5-yard run to make it 17-7. Stone Harrington kicked a 29-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 17-10 before halftime.
The third quarter saw a shift in momentum. Castellanos scored on an 8-yard run, followed by Reescano’s 1-yard touchdown, which resulted in a blocked PAT, tying the game at 17-17. However, Castellanos then threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Johnson, putting Texas Tech ahead 24-17.
In the fourth quarter, Harrington added a 42-yard field goal to make it 27-23. The game was sealed when J'Koby Williams broke free for a 64-yard rushing touchdown, extending the lead to 34-23. Salgado-Medina’s final 22-yard field goal made the margin 34-26.
