Smith TD in 2nd OT gets Texas Tech past No. 25 Houston 33-30

Updated Sep. 10, 2022 8:18 p.m. ET

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LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Donovan Smith ran 9 yards for a touchdown in the second overtime, lifting Texas Tech to a 33-30 victory over No. 25 Houston on Saturday.

A back-and-forth finish ended with the Red Raiders (2-0) beating a ranked nonconference opponent in the regular season for the first time since 1989, a span of 14 games.

After Houston's Bubba Baxa opened the second OT with a 20-yard field goal, Smith broke into the open field and ran untouched to the end zone, sending Texas Tech students and fans streaming onto the field.

Baxa kicked a go-ahead 35-yard field goal with 37 seconds remaining in regulation after Gervarrius Owens returned Smith’s second interception to the Texas Tech 21 in the final two minutes.

Smith answered by leading the Red Raiders to a tying 47-yarder from Trey Wolff with three seconds to go, keyed by Smith’s 27-yard scramble. Wolff replaced Gino Garcia, who missed from 45 earlier in the fourth quarter.

The Cougars (1-1) erased a 17-3 halftime deficit, getting even early in the fourth quarter when Art Green stepped in front of a pass from Smith and returned it 54 yards for a TD. Still, Houston's 12-game regular-season winning streak ended.

Houston also trailed by two touchdowns in the second half of another overtime game in last week’s opener, rallying from 21-7 down entering the fourth quarter for a 37-35 double-overtime victory over UTSA.

Both teams scored touchdowns in the first overtime after backing themselves up. Smith converted on fourth-and-20 with a 21-yard completion to Jerand Bradley. The Red Raiders forced the second OT on Tahj Brooks' 4-yard scoring run.

Tune faced second-and-21 to open overtime before a 19-yard completion to Nathaniel Dell. Three plays later, he threw a 15-yard TD pass to Matthew Golden.

THE TAKEAWAY

Houston: Before the Cougars made it two-for-two in overtime games this season, so did UTSA. The Roadrunners also rallied from a two-touchdown deficit in the second half Saturday, beating Army 41-38 in OT.

Texas Tech: Smith was up and down in his first full game since Tyler Shough again was sidelined by a shoulder injury in last week's 63-10 victory over Murray State in the opener. The sophomore struggled at times in the first half before TD passes of 43 yards to Nehemiah Martinez and 54 yards to Myles Price gave Texas Tech its two-touchdown lead.

UP NEXT

Houston: The home opener next Saturday is a second consecutive game against a future Big 12 opponent with Kansas visiting.

Texas Tech: The first road game is next Saturday at No. 18 N.C. State.

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