What we learned from UH’s loss to Texas Tech? This might just be the first act

LUBBOCK – Five takeaways from No. 22 Houston’s 28-26 loss to No. 13 Texas Tech on Friday night:

Rematch, anyone?

These could be the two best teams in the Big 12. The Cougars went toe-to-toe with the defending champion and had the Red Raiders on the ropes in the first quarter. Texas Tech may not play another team in the regular season as good as Houston. The Cougars showed they can play in a hostile environment and gave the Red Raiders a scare at home. A rematch in the Big 12 championship game, set for Dec. 4 in Arlington, wouldn’t be a surprise. “We’re going to see them again,” cornerback Jalen Mayo said. 

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‘Coogs don’t beat Coogs’

It’s a favorite line of coach Willie Fritz, and it rang true in the third quarter. On fourth-and-2 at the Tech 4, the Cougars lined up for what could have given them a 24-21 lead. But right guard McKenzie Agnello was called for a false start, and UH had to settle for Jonathan Dimas‘ 28-yard field goal and trailed 21-20 entering the fourth quarter. “When you play a close ball game like that, you have to play close to error-free, and we did not,” Fritz said. 

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Favorite targets 

Through three games, there’s a clear pecking order in UH’s passing attack. Wide receivers Amare Thomas and Koby Young and tight end Patrick Overmyer accounted for all three touchdowns in Friday’s loss. Thomas has a team-high 18 catches and is tied with Young for the team lead with three touchdowns. Overmyer, who had the tough task of replacing Tanner Koziol, has 16 catches and consecutive games with a touchdown, including a 10-yarder with 49 seconds left. Overmyer has shown he can be a reliable second option behind Thomas. While the trio has accounted for eight total touchdowns, UH has gotten little else from the rest of the receiving corps  (fourth-string running back John Hebert has the other TD). Trent Walker, Oregon State’s leading receiver last season, is off to a slow start with six catches for 64 yards. The Cougars will need someone else to step up.

What kicking concerns?

For all the talk in preseason camp about concerns in the kicking game, Jonathan Dimas has provided a reliable right foot. Dimas is 4-for-4 on field goals after connecting from 31 and 28 yards against Texas Tech. He’s 16-of-17 on extra-point attempts. A bad snap wasn’t his fault on the first PAT of the season.

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More D.J. Butler, please?

The Cougars managed 176 rushing yards against a Tech defense that has made a habit of stuffing the run. Before Friday, the Red Raiders had held seven straight opponents under 100 rushing yards. The most Tech allowed last season was 126 to Kansas State. Makhi Hughes continues to get the bulk of the workload with 40 carries for 213 yards. Weigman was more active (13 carries for 56 yards) in the run game with a few designed runs and scrambles. Re’Shaun Sanford II only ran the ball a handful of times. It might be time to get D.J. Butler more touches: He’s averaging 8.3 yards per carry.

NO. 13 TEXAS TECH 28, NO. 22 UH 26

First Quarter

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HOU_FG Dimas 31, 9:27.

HOU_A.Thomas 11 pass from Weigman (Dimas kick), 3:32.

Second Quarter

TTU_Ke.Johnson 35 pass from Hammond (Harrington kick), 14:08.

TTU_Castellanos 3 run (Harrington kick), 3:39.

HOU_K.Young 46 pass from Weigman (Dimas kick), 1:11.

Third Quarter

TTU_J.Williams 29 run (Harrington kick), 12:41.

HOU_FG Dimas 27, 5:31.

Fourth Quarter

TTU_Dickey 1 run (Harrington kick), 7:36.

HOU_Overmyer 10 pass from Weigman (run failed), :49.

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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING_Houston, Hughes 15-71, Weigman 13-56, Sanford 5-30, Butler 2-11, K.Young 1-10, (Team) 1-(minus 2). Texas Tech, Dickey 16-65, J.Williams 7-62, Hammond 5-30, Quinte.Joyner 2-11, Castellanos 1-3, (Team) 1-(minus 3).

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PASSING_Houston, Weigman 27-38-0-282. Texas Tech, Hammond 17-27-1-257, Castellanos 0-1-1-0.

RECEIVING_Houston, Overmyer 8-72, A.Thomas 7-75, Sanford 5-50, K.Young 2-48, Hughes 2-28, T.Walker 2-5, K.Thomas 1-4. Texas Tech, Ke.Johnson 4-113, Eakin 3-40, J.Williams 3-14, Carter 2-34, Carpenter 2-27, Dickey 1-13, J.Jones 1-11, Lee 1-5.

MISSED FIELD GOALS_None.

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This article originally published at What we learned from UH’s loss to Texas Tech? This might just be the first act.