Justin Tucker, who?
May I interest you in Texas Tech kicker Jonathan Garibay, instead? The senior had his number called with the game on the line in Saturday’s home contest against Iowa State, and he came through in a way that likely even his coaches did not expect.
For much of the game, it looked like the Red Raiders, which are currently being led by an interim coach in Sonny Cumbie before new hire Joey McGuire takes over at the conclusion of the season, were going to breeze to an upset win.
They led 28-7 at one point in the first half and even in the fourth quarter, TTU held a two-score lead. But the Cyclones crept back, eventually tying the game 38 with just a minute left.
Texas Tech wasn’t out of life yet, though. It took six plays for the offense to move 31 yards down the field to the ISU 44-yard line, and instead of trying for a Hail Mary, Cumbie sent out Garibay to try from 62 yards.
Here’s what happened next.
AS CALLED ON TEXAS TECH RADIO: pic.twitter.com/y053W0kawZ
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) November 14, 2021
While the kick was just one yard shy of the NFL record that was broken earlier this season by Tucker, it isn’t the longest kick in college football history (that honor belongs to Abilene Christian’s Ove Johansson, who made a 69-yarder in 1976).
Still, what an absolutely incredible kick to give Texas Tech its first win since it fired coach Matt Wells three weeks ago, as well as bowl eligibility.
