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Texas Tech’s high octane offense took advantage of California’s inability to tackle well, and the Red Raiders continued their strong finish to the 2023 football season Saturday night with a 34-14 victory over the Golden Bears in the 47th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl.
Played in primetime on ESPN in Shreveport’s Independence Stadium, the game attracted 33,071 fans and was the first Power Five matchup in seven years for the country’s 11th oldest postseason contest.
The Red Raiders (7-6) made the most of the opportunity to play in front of a national television audience in the first Saturday night contest for the I-Bowl since Louisiana Tech and Maryland played to a tie in the 1990 contest.
“I thought we played very hard and were very physical tonight,” Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said. “We played against one of the best backs in the country and we were able to limit what he did. That allowed our defensive front to pin their ears back get after the quarterback.”
Texas Tech used a balanced attack of Behren Morton’s passing (256 yards, 3 TDs) augmented by Tahj Brooks’ running (99 yards) to build a three-score lead over Cal (6-7) midway through the third quarter and coast to their first win in three tries at the I-Bowl. Ole Miss defeated the Red Raiders in their two previous trips to Shreveport.
“It feels good to win another bowl game,” Morton said. “I’ve been to a bowl game every year I’ve been in college. What we’ve got going on at this university right now is really special.”
Cal, the first team from California to compete in an I-Bowl, had trouble solving the Red Raider defense after the opening quarter.
“We didn’t play good enough football today,” Cal coach Justin Wilcox said. “You have to give Texas Tech credit. They outplayed us. They ran the ball better, threw it…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/texas-tech-vaults-past-california-055627485.html
Author : Shreveport Times | The Times
Publish date : 2023-12-17 05:56:27
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