Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions at Texas Tech Red Raiders

No. 23 Texas Tech routs Arkansas-Pine Bluff 67-7 as Behren Morton exits after sack

The Red Raiders led 47-0 at halftime coming off their first preseason Top 25 ranking since 2008, and the game was shortened to a pair of 8-minute quarters following a 90-minute weather delay that hit at the break.

Morton came up limping after Tayvon Hardwick came off the edge and hit Morton low, tweaking the senior’s lower right leg. Hardwick was penalized for roughing the passer.

Morton took the next snap and handed off to J’Koby Williams, who ran 5 yards for a touchdown and a 37-0 lead. Morton and coach Joey McGuire then conferred with the medical staff, and Morton left the field.

He was still in uniform when he returned to the sideline before halftime, and Joey McGuire said doctors felt good about what the coach described as a hyperextended knee. Morton completed 16 of 18 passes.

Will Hammond replaced Morton and led two more scoring drives as the Red Raiders put up points all eight times they had the ball before halftime with six touchdowns and two field goals.

Hammond ran 64 yards for a touchdown on the fifth play of the second half and threw for a score. Terrance Carter had two TD catches.

Third-string QB Mitch Griffis, a former Wake Forest player who was out of football last year, completed the scoring on a TD toss with 3:20 remaining.

“We did exactly what we wanted to coming into this game,” McGuire said. “Our expectations that were going to play really well early and we were going to able to get Will in the game, Mitch in the game. Our plan was to run the offense. In this day and age when it is a constant evaluation of the roster, then you have to do that.”

Pine Bluff avoided the shutout on Christian Peters' 7-yard touchdown pass to Ellis Stewart in the fourth quarter.

The takeaway Arkansas-Pine Bluff: The Golden Lions were outgained 392-52 in the first half, when Peters was 9 of 19 for 39 yards with an interception and their leading rusher was Za'Marion Webber with 9 yards on eight carries.

Texas Tech: The Red Raiders followed the script against an overmatched opening opponent while carrying their loftiest expectations in years, maybe ever, after spending big to land one of the top transfer classes in the country.

Throwback time McGuire said the decision to shorten the third and fourth quarters came out of concern for weather delays stopping the game repeatedly. He wasn't sure they could get to halftime, at which point the game would be considered official.

“The game literally could have been called at halftime,” McGuire said. “It’s the first time I’ve been part of an 8-minute quarter since 1994 coaching junior high football.”

Sharing the wealth The blowout left little need for the top two running backs, Cameron Dickey and Williams, to play after halftime. Dickey had 90 yards rushing and a TD to go with Williams' score. Adam Hill had all 78 of his yards in the shortened second half.

Up next Arkansas-Pine Bluff: At Central Arkansas next Saturday.

Texas Tech: Kent State at home next Saturday.