Backups Help Texas Tech to Much Needed Victory Over Baylor
Being a backup is never an easy thing to do. You rarely see the field and are never talked about yet whenever your name is called, you are expected to perform even when the lights are the brightest. Some were benched and some were never given a chance but no matter how you got there, you are counted on when your team needs you most. Even if you are a kicker.
Quarterback Alan Bowman was benched earlier this season due to poor play despite being the starter since 2018. Of course, injuries have gotten in his way over the course of his career but after the slow start, he was replaced by former Utah State quarterback Henry Colombi who played for head coach Matt Wells back in his days with the Aggies. Despite the quarterback change, the Red Raiders were not winning football games.
Even though Alan Bowman was the backup quarterback heading into this game, he was put into the game early. On his very first pass attempt, he was picked off by Baylor’s Jalen Pitre for a pick six to give the Bears an early 7-3 lead. It was not until the third quarter when Alan Bowman would return due to Henry Colombi getting injured and from there, it was up to Bowman to finish the game.
But Alan Bowman was not the only backup to step up for the Red Raiders. Backup kicker Jonathan Garibay not only had to handle kicking duties, but punting duties as well. And my oh my did he do wonders in the game. He punted the football well, but it was not nearly as impressive as his perfect 4 for 4 field goals on the day.
Down 20-6 in the third quarter, both Alan Bowman and Jonathan Garibay were relied upon and both delivered when it counted. The Red Raiders would go on to outscore Baylor 18 to 10 in the second half. Running back Tahj Brooks would score twice in the final two quarters and with 4:41 left to play down by four, Garibay would drill a 46-yarder to make it a two-point game.
From there the Red Raiders defense would step up and get the key stop to give Alan Bowman the football back with just a little over two minutes left from their own 14-yard line. And when it mattered most, Alan Bowman would lead his offense down the field until fellow backup Jonathan Garibay would nail a 25-yard field goal as time expired to give the Red Raiders the 24-23 victory.
This game was not perfect by any means. But there is an old saying that an ugly win and better than a good loss and that is the cold hard truth. Texas Tech desperately needed a win and they clawed and scratched their way back into the game. It took every ounce of fight and the Red Raiders found ways to make the comeback possible with plays like this from linebacker Colin Schooler.
With the win, Texas Tech moves to just 3-5 with two games left against Oklahoma State and Kansas. It is a little late to completely turn the entire 2020 season around, but this program can use all the positive momentum they can for their final two games of the year. Congrats on winning the “BUTT” Bowl Texas Tech.
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