The difference in the Big 12 Conference

BY  JAXON HANSARD / Multimedia Journalist

Tarleton Texan Football team made the nearly four hour drive to Lubbock,  to play Texas Tech  on Sept. 16.  The Texans fell 2-1 to Tech with a final score of 41-3. 

This was the second game in the last two years where the Texans played a school from the Big 12 conference. Last year, Tarleton played against the eventual Fiesta Bowl champions Texas Christian University. 

The Texans arrived at the Jones AT&T Stadium with a 2-0 record against McNeese University and Northern Alabama where their second half offense carried them to victory, as opposed to the Red Raiders being home with an 0-2 record after starting their season with a double overtime loss to Wyoming followed by another defeat to Oregon.

 While the game didn’t  affect each team’s conference record, the impact of each outcome has different meanings for both of the parties. Tech was predicted to win with 98% according to ESPN. An upset by such a small D1 school like Tarleton would make some major waves for not only the Texans but the town of Stephenville.

While the first play of the game was encouraging with Josh Griffis sacking Texas Tech quarterback Tyler Shough. Tech went on to score three touchdowns that quarter. 

After the first quarter, the Texan defense contained the Raiders scoring a lot better, only allowing one more touchdown for the rest of the game. 

“We got some things started a time or to moving the chains, but we couldn’t finish” Todd Whitten, Tarleton Head coach said. 

Whitten did credit Tech for their physical football team and they ran the ball probably a bit better than he thought they would. 

“I don’t think it’s all bad we competed we battled really hard, being able to hang in there with these guys (Texas Tech) in the game, maybe a field goal there in the first half but we just couldn’t finish, I’m awfully proud of our guys,” Whitten said.

Despite the big scoring difference Whitten was hopeful and proud of his players performance. 

“My impression of our football team is that they played with a lot of toughness, a lot of grit so were certainly proud of that, just got to make more plays,” Whitten said.

Starting quarterback Victor Gabalis claims execution and communication when asked what the difference between the Texans and Tech was today. 

“We just got to execute, I know the defense stood well, if we can figure out their defense it shows they can rally with us, we couldn’t get it going, we got to execute,” Gabalis said.

Patrick Jones again had the most impactful defensive performance with seven total sacks. “Defensively we got to be able to stop the ball, get the ball down,” Jones said.

The 3-point field goal was scored in the final minutes of the fourth quarter by previous United Athletic Conference player of the week Adrian Guzman.