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.
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.