Montana State Falls in Season Opener at Texas Tech

Photo by: Garrett Becker

8/31/2019 5:42:00 PM | Football

Texas Tech jumped out to a two-touchdown lead and never trailed as Montana State football dropped its 2019 season opener to the Big 12’s Red Raiders 45-10 on Saturday

By: Andrew Pedersen

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech jumped out to a two-touchdown lead and never trailed as Montana State football dropped its 2019 season opener to the Big 12's Red Raiders 45-10 on Saturday, Aug. 31, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

The Red Raiders found the end zone on their first two drives of the game to take a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Quarterback Alan Bowman led Texas Tech on consecutive drives that spanned 85 and 79 yards.

Montana State got on the board in the second quarter to cut the deficit to a one-score game.

Texas Tech drove into Bobcat territory as Bowman connected with receiver Xavier White, but Jahque Alleyne forced a Red Raider fumble at the goal line and recovered it in the end zone. MSU quarterback Casey Bauman completed a pass to Kevin Kassis on the ensuing drive for 35 yards to put the Bobcats into Texas Tech territory. After a short run on first down, Bauman found Coy Steel down the seam for a 31-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-7. The touchdown was the first for each in their Bobcat careers.

The Red Raiders found the end zone two more times before halftime and eventually scored 24 consecutive points before Montana State got on the board again behind a 37-yard field goal by Tristan Bailey in the fourth quarter.

Bowman finished the game by going 40-for-55 through the air and 436 yards passing. The Red Raiders also gained 255 yards on the ground as Armand Shyne led the way with 125 yards on 11 carries. Eleven Red Raiders caught passes as Texas Tech racked up 691 yards of total offense. Their defense was paced by Jordyn Brooks's 11 tackles.

Bauman went 7 of 19 passing and threw for 120 yards. Isaiah Ifanse ran for 77 of MSU's 123 rushing yards, which included a 40-yard carry. Steel and Kassis each had three catches with 56 and 44 yards receiving, respectively.

The Bobcat defense forced the lone turnover of the game. Brayden Konkol, Tyrel Thomas, Ty'Rhae Gibson and Level Price Jr. all had pass breakups, with Price Jr.'s leading to a turnover on downs. Konkol had a team-high nine tackles while Bryce Sterk registered a sack for Montana State.

Montana State returns home for its second game of the season and home opener as the Bobcats host Southeast Missouri State on Saturday, Sept. 7. Kickoff at Bobcat Stadium is set for 6 p.m.