Tyler Shough shines, Texas Tech football team snaps skid with win over Kansas

Victories have been few and far between for the Texas Tech football team over the past month and a half.

Even when the Red Raiders snapped a skid Saturday night, they were unable to celebrate with the usual gusto.

Tyler Shough, making his first start since he suffered a broken collarbone in the season opener, shined in a 43-28 conquest of Kansas, the Red Raiders' second victory in their past six Big 12 games. Shough passed for 246 yards, ran for 76 and had a touchdown each passing and rushing.

The Tech mood was tempered, though, by the loss of star defensive end Tyree Wilson. The Bednarik Award semifinalist left the game in the third quarter after he suffered a right foot or ankle injury that involved little or no contact.

Kansas (6-4, 3-4 in the Big 12) closed within 33-28 midway through the fourth quarter. Tech (5-5, 3-4) had a finishing burst, though. Trey Wolff kicked the last of his three field goals with 4:19 to go. On the first play after the kickoff, Tech defensive end Jesiah Pierre sacked Jason Bean, causing a fumble that defensive tackle Jaylon Hutchings scooped up.

Three plays later, Tahj Brooks scored from 5 yards out.

The Red Raiders need to win at least one of their last two games, Saturday at Iowa State or Nov. 26 against Oklahoma, to qualify for a bowl for the second year in a row. Their best player already has been ruled out, Tech coach Joey McGuire said, at least for next week.

On a third-and-long, Wilson rushed off the edge past the Kansas right tackle and came up lame. Athletic trainers, one under each arm, helped him to the sideline and he was quickly carted out of Jones AT&T Stadium to the Tech football building.

McGuire said Wilson's right foot was X-rayed, but he had no immediate prognosis. He said the injury will be further evaluated on Sunday.

"Hopefully he's OK," McGuire said. "If he's not, it's going to be really tough for us and that kid. He is everything you want in a football player, not just talent-wise, but who he is and how much he cares about this team. We'll get another look at it tomorrow to see (if it's a) stress fracture, if it's a fracture, if it's an ankle, exactly what all it is."

Wilson returned to the sideline before the third quarter ended on crutches and wearing an orthopedic boot. The 6-foot-6, 275-pound defensive end has been projected by multiple analysts as a potential first-round draft pick next spring. He's among the FBS leaders this season with 14 tackles for loss and seven sacks.

Even as teammates and coaches were consoling Wilson after he returned to the sideline, Shough ran 9 yards for a touchdown that gave Tech a 33-21 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter. Shough hurt the Jayhawks with designed runs and scrambles. He ran for gains of 14, 9, 9, 8, 5, 7 and 18 yards before the TD.

"I felt great," Shough said. "This whole week, I started to feel like myself again as far mentally and physically. It was really good to put everything together, go out there with my guys and just have fun."

Kansas quarterback Jason Bean threw for 270 yards and three touchdowns, his fifth game in a row to top 200. He didn't finish the game, however, after Pierre's sack near the end of the game.

Jayhawks running back Devin Neal, coming off a game the week before with 224 yards rushing and 110 receiving, carried 24 times for 190 yards.

Kansas cut it to 33-28 with 8:06 to go when Quentin Skinner tightroped the sideline in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown catch. On the next series, Shough converted a third-and-1 with a quarterback keeper, then hit Xavier White over the middle for 47 yards to the Kansas 16-yard line. Wolff kicked the last of his three field goals, a 30-yarder that made it 36-28 with 4:19 left.

Kansas kicker Jacob Borcila missed two field goals, both glancing off the right upright.

Wolff's 51-yard field goal as time ran out gave Tech a 27-21 lead at halftime. It matched Wolff's career long from earlier in the season and capped a first half in which Kansas had 341 yards of offense and Tech 338.

The Red Raiders scored on their first four possessions for a 24-7 lead, and Kansas retaliated with two touchdowns late in the second quarter to get back within 24-21. A 31-yard connection from Bean to Lawrence Arnold converted a third-and-7, moving Kansas to the Tech 29-yard line. Three plays later, not finding a receiver open, Bean dashed 16 yards for a touchdown.

That narrowed the gap to 24-14 at 5:44 before the break.

Getting the ball back after a punt, Neal darted 63 yards to the Tech 4. Two plays later, Luke Grimm went in motion, Bean dumped the ball to him and Grimm outran pursuit to the pylon, the 3-yard TD cutting it to 24-21.

Shough had 180 yards passing and 46 rushing in the first half.

After Shough marched the Red Raiders down the field to start the game, Donovan Smith came in on second-and-goal at the 6 and went into the end zone untouched on a quarterback draw.

Kansas answered promptly on a 66-yard scoring pass from Bean to Jared Casey. Tech didn't account for the 245-pound tight end on fourth-and-1 from the KU 34. He slipped past coverage, caught Bean's throw at the Tech 45 and had an easy gallop to the end zone.

Tech ran off the next 17 points as Wolff made a 33-yard field goal and the Red Raiders scored touchdowns on a 36-yard run by SaRodorick Thompson and a 1-yard pass from Shough to tight end Mason Tharp. Wolff's field goal came after a 34-yard reception by Nehemiah Martinez moved the ball to the KU 18.

Tharp's touchdown finished off a 12-play, 80-yard drive on which the Red Raiders converted three third downs.

During Tech's 17-point spree, Borcila missed a field goal off the right upright and the Jayhawks turned the ball over on downs at the Tech 39 when Dadrion Taylor-Demerson broke up a fourth-down pass.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Tyler Shough shines, Texas Tech football team snaps skid with win over Kansas