Donovan Smith throws 3 INTs, bounces back with walk-off TD to down Houston in 2 OT

Donovan Smith didn't have the best Saturday afternoon. Until he did.

Texas Tech's sophomore quarterback threw three interceptions, including one that was returned 53 yards for a touchdown, and was sacked five times, but did not let that affect his demeanor or moxie as he faced off against No. 25 Houston.

Instead, he just kept playing. And so did his teammates.

With that, the Texas Tech captain literally took things into his own hands as he scanned the field and elected to run 9 yards for a touchdown and lead the Red Raiders to an improbable 33-30 double-overtime victory.

"It was just going through my reads," Smith said after throwing for more than 350 yards and two touchdowns. "Coach (Zach) Kittley says to always use your legs. ... And I was going through my reads, and saw them dropping back, saw a hole opened up, and I took it and ran it."

Despite holding a two-score lead at halftime, before the Cougars rallied back to take a field goal lead, Smith marched his offense down the field in six plays to set up a game-tying, 47-yard field goal by Trey Wolff to put things at 20-20 and force overtime inside Jones AT&T Stadium.

In the extra period, facing fourth-and-20, Smith completed a 21-yard pass to Jerald Bradley crossing toward the right sideline. Two plays later, Tahj Brooks went in from the 4 to knot the game up again at 27-27.

Tech beat a ranked non-conference opponent in the regular season for the first time since 1989, when Arizona was the victim in the season opener.

"You've got Donovan, who can prolong a play with his feet — he's a true dual-threat quarterback — he's a got a big arm and can throw on the run," Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said. "And then (Jerand) Bradley with the head's up — here we go scramble drill; let me get into a (passing) window. And he did a great job getting into a window and Donovan got it to him and we got a first down."

The former Frenship standout used his arm and legs to rally Texas Tech (2-0), which trailed 20-17 with 37 seconds left in regulation.

It was a huge switch from the week before when the Red Raiders scored on their first eight possessions in a 63-10 victory against Murray State. Houston (1-1), soon to be Tech's Big 12 rival, was coming off a 37-35 victory in triple overtime last week at UT-San Antonio.

It was knotted up at 3-3 for a majority of the first half until the Red Raiders took a two-score lead at halftime and Houston got comfortable before tying the game at 17-17 and 20-20 before advancing to overtime.

In the extra period, the Cougars won the toss and asked for the ball — needing five plays before a tunnel screen from Clayton Tune to Matthew Golden developed into a 15-yard touchdown from the right to left side of the end zone.

Prior to overtime, Texas Tech appeared in control as its headed into the break with a 17-3 advantage. The Cougars battled back — aided by three Donovan Smith interceptions, one returned for a touchdown — by outscoring the Red Raiders 14-3 in the final two quarters to extend the contest.

UH nickleback Jayce Rogers started the late-drama as he jumped a slant route, picked off a Smith pass intended for Myles Price and returned it without being touched for a 53-yard touchdown that made it 17-17 with 12:25 left in the fourth quarter.

The Red Raiders had a chance to go back in front, but a third-down pass from Smith to the left pylon went through the hands of Bradley. Adding insult to injury, Gino Garcia missed a 45-yard field goal and gave the Cougars the ball back on their own 28 with 5:30 to play.

The third interception thrown by Smith turned out to be be the difference as its allowed Cougars kicker Bubba Baxa to connect on a 35-yard field goal with 37 seconds left to put Houston up 20-17.

But, the sophomore quarterback bounced back and engineered a drive to allow Trey Wolff to hit a game-tying 47-yard field goal and give the Red Raiders a chance — one they did not squander.

The first half wasn't as action packed early one.

Nehemiah Martinez — who played at New Deal and later Lubbock-Cooper before donning the red and black — started as a walk-on, earned a role and scored the first touchdown of the game.

He was living the dream as he stiff-armed one would-be tackler, shed another and completed a 43-yard touchdown catch — the first of his career. More important, he jumpstarted the Red Raiders' offense. Later in the half, Smith and Myles Price connected on a 54-yard touchdown.

Prior to his touchdown, Price was absent for much of the first half due to back tightness. That didn't seem to bother the 5-10, 180-pound wideout as he ran to the post and caught a quick, short throw out of a stack formation. Going cross field, Price outran Houston safety Hasaan Hypolite, who was then tripped up by teammate Jayce Rogers, taking both out of the play. Price then beat pursuit down the right sideline, and the TD gave Tech a 17-3 advantage before the break.

Houston came out with the same swagger in the third quarter, though.

Tune, who had struggled to get comfortable in the pocket, launched a 63-yard pass to Nathaniel Dell —while fending off Dadrion Taylor-Demerson — that put UH in business at the Tech 4-yard line. Three plays later, Brandon Campbell bulldozed his way for a 2-yard touchdown and cut the Houston deficit to 17-10 at the 13:24 mark of the third.

The Red Raiders were unable to stave off the Cougars, who turned in a stellar play on defense to knot things up in the fourth.

Donovan Smith, who had not thrown an interception since last season, attempted to throw a quick slant to Price. But Rogers jumped the route, picked off the pass and returned it without being touched for a 53-yard and touchdown to put things at 17-all with 12:25 left to play.

The final 12 minutes, and overtime period, proved to be a vital lesson for the Red Raiders and their first-year head coach.

It's been a while: Trey Wolff connected on a 25-yard field goal, providing Texas Tech a 3-0 lead at the 11:26 mark of the first quarter. It marked Wolff's first made field goal since Nov. 7, 2020.

What's next: Texas Tech is scheduled to take on North Carolina State State at 6 p.m. Sept. 17 in Raleigh, North Carolina. ESPN2 has the telecast. Houston is slated to host another future Big 12 conference opponent in Kansas at 3 p.m. Sept. 17.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech's Donovan Smith gets walk-off TD to beat Houston in OT