Texas Tech ends 4-game skid with 38-24 win over Baylor
LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 11: Keke Coutee of Texas Tech returns the opening kick off for a touchdown during the first half against Baylor on November 11, 2017 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Keke Coutee had Texas Tech's first game-opening kickoff return for a touchdown since 1973, and the Red Raiders went on to end a four-game losing streak with a 38-24 win over Baylor on Saturday.
"It was big. We needed this one, been right there the last four games ... just couldn't pull it out," quarterback Nic Shimonek said. "I felt like we played one of our most complete games start to finish than we have all year. Good confidence builder."
Texas Tech (5-5, 2-5 Big 12) still needs one more win to get bowl eligible, and there is still uncertainty about coach Kliff Kingsbury's future at his alma mater. The Red Raiders won their first seven games after the former quarterback became coach in 2013, but are 22-31 since and missed out on bowl games two of the last three seasons.
Coutee took the opening kickoff back 93 yards to start a Tech game with a touchdown return for the first time since Lawrence Williams against New Mexico in 1973.
"We put a huge emphasis on kickoff return unit this week. We knew we could make some plays on those guys," Coutee said. "The first one worked out perfectly."
Baylor (1-9, 1-6) got even when Charlie Brewer threw a 4-yard TD to Gavin Holmes on its opening drive, but the Red Raiders went ahead to stay on Tre King's 1-yard TD run that capped their first offensive possession.
Shimonek threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns, the eighth time this season the fifth-year senior had multiple TD passes for Tech. Shimonek completed his first 10 passes for the third time this season, and finished 24-of-29 passing.
Brewer completed 43 of 63 passes for 417 yards and three touchdowns in his second start for the Bears, a week after they beat Kansas in his starting debut. But the Bears had four turnovers, including a fumble inside the 10 and an interception in the end zone.
"I felt like we moved the ball very well throughout the game but those four turnovers really killed us," Brewer said. "Very frustrating, we need to find a way to be more efficient in the red zone."
The game at AT&T Stadium, where Brewer won a Texas Class 6A state championship game as Austin Lake Travis High's quarterback last December, only weeks before he enrolled at Baylor.
THE TAKEAWAY
Texas Tech: Coutee entered the game tied for the Big 12 lead with 69 catches, or 7.7 per game. He had only two catches against Baylor, but had the big play to start the game. Dylan Cantrell had 11 catches for the Red Raiders.
Baylor: Brewer and the young Bears had 523 total yards, including 12 catches for 152 yards and a late score by Denzel Mims. But there were two lost fumbles on quarterback-running back exchanges, the one inside the 10 coming when Baylor was down only 14-7 in the first quarter. Tech returned a fumble for a touchdown in the fourth when Tony Nicholson was stripped after a catch.
UP NEXT
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders hosts No. 8 TCU in their last home game of the season next Saturday.
Baylor: The Bears play their home finale next Saturday against No. 24 Iowa State.
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