LUBBOCK, Texas -- Texas Tech didn't give up 80 points this week, but another loss to a mediocre Texas team and losing another quarterback is just as deflating.
The Longhorns' defense delievered another huge blow to an already depleted Red Raider offense in a 34-13 win in Lubbock on Saturday night.
Texas Tech starting quarterback Davis Webb was already out with an ankle injury, forcing true freshman Patrick Mahomes into his first career start. But that didn't last long as Mahomes left the game after taking a hard hit from Texas cornerback Quandre Diggs in the second quarter.
"I don't have an official diagnosis," Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury said. "I know Patrick had some sort of head injury and Davis has some sort of lower leg injury."
The only quarterback left to turn to was walk-on freshman Vincent Testaverde, the son of 1986 Heisman Trophy winner Vinny Testaverde.
And for a moment, it looked as if he would save the day for the Red Raiders, leading the offense on a touchdown drive just before halftime. But that would be the only time they would find the end zone.
"When you get to your third-string quarterback who hasn't played much and is a true freshman, it's going to be a tough situation," Kingsbury said.
Missed kicks and turnovers by both teams highlighted an ugly first half. But the turning point in the game was when Diggs knocked out and forced the Texas Tech quarterback to fumble.
"I think that got us going because you know, to see him make that hit, it as a really good, clean hit," Texas coach Charlie Strong said. "I don't like to see an injury to any player, whether it's mine or someone else's, but it was just a good, clean it, and he did kind of get everyone going.
Before the hit, Mahomes appeared to be getting more comfortable leading the Texas Tech offense, going 13 of 21 for 109 yards.
"It was just a good hit," Diggs said. "Came in, saw he was running, did what I was supposed to do to get my team fired up."
On the other sideline, Kingsbury needed a whole new gameplan with Testaverde taking over.
"Yeah, [it changed] a lot," he said. "Any time you play a true freshman it's going to change your calls."
Testaverde finished 15 of 26 for 116 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception.
Texas Tech has an extra week to figure out its quarterback situation before Oklahoma visits on Nov. 15.
The Longhorns hope their energy and intensity carries over to next week against West Virigina, and the next few games just to become bowl eligible.
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