Halloween turned grim for Arizona, which fell 34-26 to No. 13 Texas Tech on Friday. The defeat dealt a significant setback to the Wildcats’ College Football Playoff hopes and their chances of reaching the Big 12 title game. Texas Tech, now 7-1, also matched a program record with its 13th consecutive home victory.
Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire made a quarterback change after last week’s loss to Cincinnati, replacing Will Hammond with Thomas Castellanos. The decision worked out well. Castellanos threw for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 11-of-24 passing, and added 117 yards and a score on the ground. It was the fifth time in his career he had rushed for more than 100 yards in a game.
The Red Raiders’ ground game was a major part of the win, producing 332 yards. J’Koby Williams led the way with 175 rushing yards and a touchdown. Texas Tech did have to recover from an early deficit, though.
Both teams scored on their opening possessions. Arizona struck first with a 35-yard field goal by Michael Salgado-Medina, but Texas Tech answered with a 13-play, 75-yard drive. Castellanos capped it with a 24-yard touchdown pass to tight end Terrance Carter Jr., giving the Red Raiders a 7-3 lead.
After several punts and failed fourth-down attempts, Arizona found the end zone with a spectacular play. Facing third-and-12 from its own 6-yard line, quarterback Noah Fifita scrambled out of the end zone and threw to Isaiah Mizell. Mizell took off down the sideline for a 94-yard touchdown, putting the Wildcats ahead 10-7.
Arizona extended its advantage late in the first half with a 14-play, 81-yard drive. Kedrick Reescano took a direct snap from the Wildcat formation and ran five yards for the score, making it 17-7.
Texas Tech managed a field goal before halftime to cut the gap to 17-10. It then opened the third quarter with a touchdown drive, as Castellanos faked a pitch and ran through the defense for an eight-yard score to tie the game.
The Wildcats responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive of their own. Reescano scored from the 1-yard line for his second touchdown, but Arizona’s extra-point attempt was blocked, leaving the score at 23-17.
Texas Tech took advantage of the missed conversion. On fourth-and-2 from Arizona’s 27, Castellanos connected with Kenny Johnson, who had run a deep route, for a touchdown. The Red Raiders converted the extra point to move in front, 24-23.
Texas Tech’s defense stopped Arizona on its next possession, and Stone Harrington added a 42-yard field goal to stretch the lead to 27-23. The teams had traded scores to start the half, but the defenses began to take control.
Arizona had a chance to answer but came up short on fourth-and-1 from the Texas Tech 18. Fifita’s pass sailed over tight end Tyler Powell. The Red Raiders then threatened to build a two-score lead, only for running back Cameron Dickey to fumble. Arizona recovered at the Texas Tech 43, but couldn’t turn the field position into points and was forced to punt.
The Wildcats got the ball back with about four and a half minutes remaining after forcing a Texas Tech punt. They went three-and-out, however, and the Red Raiders’ offense soon put the game out of reach.
On third-and-1, Williams found a gap and raced 64 yards for a touchdown, giving Texas Tech a 34-23 lead. The score capped a run of 17 unanswered points by the Red Raiders.
Arizona added a late field goal but failed to recover the ensuing onside kick, ending its comeback attempt.
