Not even the weather stopped Texas Tech quarterback Seth Doege.
In a game hampered by two lightning delays, Doege helped to defeat the Lobos 59-13 on Saturday at University Stadium, setting a new NCAA completion percentage record.
Doege threw for 401 yards and five touchdowns and completed 40 out of 44 passes. His completion percentage of 90.7 set a new NCAA record for completion percentage with a minimum of 40 attempts.
“I’m obviously disappointed in how we performed today,” UNM’s head coach Mike Locksley said. “We consistently weren’t able to run or throw to give our defense a chance. We’re still a work in progress; we still haven’t learned to overcome the negative plays.”
The loss to Texas Tech was the second straight game in which the Lobos allowed at least 50 points.
The Red Raiders started the game with a four-play scoring drive.
The first Lobo drive ended with quarterback Tarean Austin throwing a pass that was intercepted by Texas Tech’s Blake Dees.
Texas Tech would score again on its next drive. After the fifth minute of play, the score was 14-0 Texas Tech.
“It’s the little mistakes that really cost us today,” Lobo linebacker Carmen Messina said. “I thought all the mistakes and adversity we faced before were one of those things we could put behind us. We have to make sure everyone’s holding themselves accountable.”
With 3:50 left in the first quarter, the game faced the first lighting delay, which lasted a total of 51 minutes.
When play resumed, Doege continued to complete passes. He was perfect on his first 15 attempts of the game.
He would not be the only one to throw a touchdown pass for the Red Raiders. With 10:35 left in the second quarter, wide receiver Austin Zouzalik threw a touchdown pass to Darrin Moore on a trick play.
The first and only Lobo touchdown would come with 7:56 left in the half on a 2-yard rush by Lobo running back Crusoe Gongbay.
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The Lobos went into the locker room at halftime down 38-7. During half time, the game was put on another lightning delay, which lasted 44 minutes.
The offense had its share of mistakes as well: In the second quarter, Texas Tech turned the ball over on downs, but immediately regained possession the next play, after Austin coughed up the ball.
“We’re beating ourselves,” Lobo wide receiver Deon Long said. “The playmakers have to make plays.”
Long made the longest catch of the day for the Lobos by receiving a 69-yard pass from Austin. He ended the day with 139 receiving yards.
The day wasn’t a complete loss for every Lobo football player.
With 7:42 left in the game, kicker James Aho made a field goal to make the score 59-10. With it, he reached seventh in the all-time scorers list for the Lobos, and second in the all-time kickers list. He made another field goal with 1:40 left in the game.
