Texas Tech topples No. 11 Iowa State with 12-play drive in closing minutes

Texas Tech defeated No. 11 Iowa State 23-22 on Saturday in Ames, Iowa, following a fourth-quarter comeback orchestrated by quarterback Behren Morton.

Tahj Brooks crossed the goal line on the game-winning touchdown for the Red Raiders (6-3, 4-2) with 19 seconds remaining to cap off a 12-play, 71-yard drive. With Morton lined up as a receiver on the second-and-goal play, Brooks caught a direct snap and ran into the right side of the end zone.

Morton had 237 yards of passing on 21-of-40 passing, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Both touchdown passes went to Josh Kelly, who had 127 receiving yards on eight receptions.

The Cyclones (7-1, 4-1) undefeated and averaging 25.1 penalty yards per game entering the day, were dealt their first loss, committing eight penalties for 59 yards in the process.

On one penalty, Morton was intercepted by Jontez Williams, but an illegal hands to the face flag on Tyler Onyedim kept the ball in the Red Raiders’ hands. Morten led Texas Tech for nine more plays in the drive, ending with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Kelly.

Even so, it looked like Iowa State had their second straight fourth-quarter comeback when Rocco Becht found Carson Brown for a 44-yard touchdown with 2:11 remaining in the game. But that left Texas Tech plenty of time to run a successful two-minute offense.

After Texas Tech’s game-winning drive, Iowa State had a chance to get into field goal range for a game-winning kick. On the final play, the Cyclones tried to use laterals to keep the game going after the clock hit zero, but couldn’t convert on the play, giving the Red Raiders the victory.

Becht had 299 yards of passing with two touchdowns and an interception. Jayden Higgins was Iowa State’s top receiver on the day, catching 10 passes for 140 yards with a touchdown.

–Field Level Media