Split end Eric Ward broke the Texas Tech single-game record for pass receptions in the Red Raiders’ loss to Baylor on Saturday. Robert Johnson had 15 in a 2006 game against SMU and Mike Crabtree matched that in 2007 against Texas-El Paso.
Ward caught 16 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
“Eric had a great night,” Tech coach Tommy Tuberville said. “He made some huge plays and kept us in the game.”
The sophomore from Wichita Falls Rider had six catches and a touchdown on one series in the second quarter. His second TD was perhaps his most impressive play of the night.
As he swept left to right in front of quarterback Seth Doege, Ward took a short flip and then powered through a scrum near the 25-yard line on the way to the 33-yard touchdown.
Tech middle linebacker Cqulin Hubert, who had started five of the previous six games, was suspended for Saturday, head coach Tommy Tuberville said. He didn’t travel to Arlington.
True freshman Sam Eguavoen took Hubert’s place, rejoining the starting lineup for the first time since the Oct. 8 Texas A&M game.
Tech had four linebackers in uniform: Daniel Cobb and Eguavoen, who started, and Blake Dees and Tanner Foster as backups.
Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville railed at the officiating crew during a key second-quarter sequence that prompted two penalties in a row against the Red Raiders.
With Baylor facing fourth-and-7 from the Tech 37-yard line, the Tech defense was called for delay of game penalty. At that point, Tuberville blew up and referee Randy Christal flagged him for unsportsmanlike conduct.
“I never heard of it before,” Tuberville said of the delay of game on the defense. “We were trying to match up, seeing who they had in the game. They were just coming out, getting lined up and we got a penalty.
“I’ve got to go read my rule book on that one. They (officials) couldn’t explain it to me. It looked like it got personal out there for some reason.”
Asked what he meant by “got personal,” Tuberville said, “I got a 15-yard penalty after that, just trying to get an explanation. For some reason, they didn’t like my trying to get an explanation.”
Baylor had first down from the Tech 17 after the penalties and scored five plays later for a 31-21 lead.
Texas Tech running back Aaron Crawford and guard Lonnie Edwards both started and got extensive playing time a week after they suffered significant injuries against Missouri.
Tech coach Tommy Tuberville said early in the week that Crawford was doubtful with a high-ankle sprain. Edwards was listed as questionable with a knee sprain.
Texas Tech’s spate of injuries didn’t end in the regular-season finale. Starting cornerback Happiness Osunde suffered what appeared to be a significant left knee injury in the first half when a Baylor receiver fell on him.
Tech coach Tommy Tuberville said the injury looked “pretty bad.” The preliminary diagnosis was a knee sprain, according to an announcement by Tech, though the injury could be more severe, pending further examination.
Osunde remained down on the Tech sideline for several months while medical staffers immobilized the leg. He was then carted to the locker room.
Going into Saturday’s game, the Red Raiders had lost seven players to season-ending injuries in the previous three weeks.
Who’s that guy?
Tech backup quarterback Jacob Karam threw his second career touchdown pass Saturday night, which was no oddity. But all the circumstances of his 43-yard TD strike to Darrin Moore were unusual.
Karam entered at wide receiver, he was wearing No. 85 and he took a pitch from quarterback Seth Doege before turning loose the scoring pass. Doege faked a handoff to running back Aaron Crawford before pitching to Karam.
Tech officials had to confirm the identity of No. 85. In practice, walk-on receiver Jordan Davis from Arlington wears 85. Tech officials said Karam’s usual No. 3 jersey was torn in pre-game warmups.
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