Clutch field goals give Texas Tech kicker Trey Wolff redemption

Two years ago might seem like a long time to Trey Wolff. That was when the Texas Tech kicker lost his job after missing four of his first five field goals in the 2020 season.

Now Texas Tech's senior kicker has redemption and a place in Red Raiders' lore.

Wolff made a 20-yard field goal in the first overtime to give the Red Raiders a walk-off, 37-34 victory against rival Texas on Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium. His game winner came five plays after Tech safety Reggie Pearson recovered a fumble by Longhorns star running back Bijan Robinson at the start of the overtime.

Wolff already had made what felt like a game-winning field goal moments before: His 45-yarder put Tech ahead 34-31 with 21 seconds left in regulation. But three passes by Texas quarterback Hudson Card, including a 28-yarder to Tyrique Milton, set up Texas kicker Bert Auburn to make a 48-yard field that made the score 34-34 as time expired.

Wolff also made a 27-yard field in the fourth quarter. He's 5 for 6 this season in a career that's been up, then down and now up again. He was 20 for 22 in 2019 and then after losing the job in 2020, watched Jonathan Garibay handle field goals last season.

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"I think one of the biggest things that helped me so much is coach (Joey) McGuire preaches a 'what's-next' mentality and we're all The Brand," Wolff said. "So something good happens, what's next? Erase that. If something bad happens, erase it. What's next?

"Starting off this game, I hit a kickoff out of bounds. I'm just going to walk on the sideline and act like nothing happened, because I know there's a possibility my team's going to need me. So the best opportunity for me in that situation is to have a level head."

It was Tech's second consecutive walk-off win in overtime at home. Two weeks ago, Donovan Smith's 9-yard touchdown in the second overtime delivered a 33-30 victory against Houston in double overtime.

Smith had a chance to craft an identical finish Saturday, but lost his footing on a third-down run from the 3.

"If he doesn't slip, we probably win it with a touchdown right there," Tech coach Joey McGuire said. "Wolff's probably fired up because he got to kick the game winner. I'm proud of him."

The fans rushed the field after the dramatic ending against Houston, and they got to do it again for the Red Raiders' first victory against Texas in Jones AT&T Stadium since the memorable 2008 game. Tech trailed 24-14 at halftime and 31-17 late in the third quarter.

Watch:Texas Tech kicker Trey Wolff hit game-winning field goal in overtime to upset Texas

Daring to go

Tech coach Joey McGuire, with his team being a 7-point underdog against No. 22 Texas, pulled out all the stops. Tech went for it on fourth down eight times and converted on six of those occasions. Tech scored three touchdowns and two field goals on drives that included a fourth-down conversion.

"That shows they believe in us," said receiver Myles Price, who had 98 yards on a career-high 13 receptions. "When they believe in us, we believe in ourselves even more. It gives us more confidence.

"If it was me and I was the coach, I would do the exact same thing. I'm going for it. We don't have to put a kicker out there. Let's go score."

Tech quarterback Donovan Smith played a part in all six conversions, completing passes for three to Xavier White, Brady Boyd and Myles Price and running for three. That included a 4-yard run for the Red Raiders' first TD on fourth-and-goal in the first quarter.

What a ride:Trey Wolff 20-yard FG in OT helps Texas Tech top No. 22 Texas

Nose for the ball

Tech safety Reggie Pearson has three takeaways in the past two home games. In the victory against Houston, he intercepted a pass.

On Saturday, he intercepted a deep pass by Hudson Card and returned it for 15 yards. And when linebacker Krishon Merriweather knocked the ball loose from Bijan Robinson in overtime, Pearson won the scramble to the ball.

"Once I saw the ball come out, it was like an immediate reaction, just to jump on it," Pearson said. "It was like a 300-pounder right next to me, so it was like, 'I'm about to get smashed or something.' I had to hurry and get on the ball and then, thankfully, my guys came in and fought for me, so it was cool, pulling people off of me and lifting me up."

McGuire said he believes players practice themselves into being good and then practice themselves into being great.

"The one person on this team that started doing that early and believing me with that is Reggie," McGuire said. "I think it shows up in the plays. He's been a guy that's been a ball hawk for us. I think he'll continue to create turnovers for us."

In context

Joey McGuire became the third man to beat Texas in his first game to face the Longhorns as the Red Raiders' coach. DeWitt Weaver led a 20-14 victory in Austin in 1955, and David McWilliams led a 23-21 win in Lubbock in 1986.

The victory by Weaver came in his fifth season, the Red Raiders having not played the Longhorns in his first four years.

Tech trailed 31-17 in the second half Saturday. According to Tech research, the Red Raiders matched their largest comeback victory in the series. Tech rallied to win 42-38 in 2002 after trailing 14-0.

Personnel updates

As McGuire indicated at the beginning of the week, starting offensive guard Weston Wright returned to the lineup after he missed the previous week's game at North Carolina State with an ankle injury. Wright started and played the full game.

"Getting Weston Wright back was absolutely huge," McGuire said. "He honestly had his best week of practice since I've been here, and I was really of him."

Tech starting tight end Henry Teeter missed the game with an undisclosed injury, but the Red Raiders made extensive use of tight ends Mason Tharp, Baylor Cupp and Jayden York. Cupp caught four passes for 46 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown pass that made the score 31-31 with 7:54 left in the game.

McGuire said Teeter is expected to return to practice Sunday.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Clutch field goals give Texas Tech kicker Trey Wolff career redemption