HOUSTON (AP) — Behren Morton threw for 345 yards and a touchdown, J’Koby Williams ran for two scores and No. 11 Texas Tech improved to 5-0 with a 35-11 victory over previously unbeaten Houston on Saturday night.
It’s the first time the Red Raiders have won their first five games since opening the 2013 season 7-0 and is the eighth 5-0 start in school history.
Texas Tech (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) has dominated through its first five games, winning each contest by at least 24 points and outscoring opponents 243-56.
Conner Weigman threw for 71 yards with an interception in the first half for Houston (4-1, 1-1) before going to the locker room late in the second quarter with an apparent injury and not returning.
The Red Raiders were up by 6 late in the first quarter after three field goals when Morton found Cameron Dickey on a short pass and he juked two defenders and ran untouched for a 69-yard touchdown. The 2-point conversion failed to leave Tech up 15-3.
Jacob Rodriguez intercepted Weigman's and returned it to the Houston 25 early in the second quarter. Texas Tech cashed in five plays later when Williams scored on a 5-yard run that made it 22-3.
Caleb Johnson had a season-high 114 yards receiving on seven catches for Texas Tech and Coy Eakin added 10 receptions for 81 yards. Williams had 107 yards rushing and Dickey ran for 98 yards on 21 carries as Texas Tech piled up 552 yards.
Zeon Chriss-Gremillion took over after Weigman exited and scrambled for 11 yards on his first play before throwing a 64-yard touchdown pass to Amare Thomas on his second about 90 seconds before halftime. He connected with Stephon Johnson on the 2-point conversion to cut the lead to 25-11.
Chriss-Gremillion threw for 93 yards with an interception and led the Cougars with 59 yards rushing.
Texas Tech missed a field goal at the end of the second quarter before hitting one from 29 yards in the third to push the lead to 28-11.
The Red Raiders missed a field goal from 53 yards later in the third before the second TD by Williams early in the fourth on a 1-yard run left Texas Tech up 35-11.
The takeaway
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders should move up at least a couple of spots in the poll after losses by No. 7 Penn State and ninth-ranked Texas on Saturday.
Houston: The Cougars have certainly improved from last year’s 4-8 squad but must limit their mistakes if they hope to build on their strong start to the season.
Up Next
Texas Tech: Host Kansas next Saturday night.
Houston: At Oklahoma State next Saturday.
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