Texas Tech kicker Jonathan Garibay celebrates with fans and teammates on the field of Jones AT&T Stadium after knocking through a game-winning 62-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Red Raiders to a 41-38 win over Iowa State. [Photo by Texas Tech athletics]
1. 62 yard field goal by GaribayWhen Texas Tech took over the ball with a minute to play and the game knotted at 38-38, Tech interim coach Sonny Cumbie said getting to the 35-yard line was the goal to set up a 62-yard field for senior kicker Jonathan Garibay.Tech never came close to the 35-yard-line but it didn’t matter.Garibay stepped up and kicked the longest field goal in Texas Tech history, a 62-yarder, as the clock hit zero setting off a serious celebration where fans stormed the field.“I was thinking I hope it’s just goes in,” Garibay joked of what was going through his mind when he stepped up to kick it. “It happened so fast. When Iowa State called their last time out and I went to the sidelines I literally thought to myself with God for me who can stand against me.”The ball crept over the crossbar and put Garibay’s name in the history books.The field goal tied for the second longest in Big 12 history (65 by Martin Gramatica of Kansas State in 1998 is the longest), the longest between two Big 12 teams, and the longest field goal kicked in the FBS this year.“I had a lot of confidence in Jon,” Cumbie said. “I watched him drill that sucker and there was never a doubt in his mind he wasn’t going to make the field goal.”
2. Bowl BoundThe win by Texas Tech made it bowl eligible as it improves to 6-4 overall and 3-4 in the Big 12.Many thought Cumbie couldn’t pull off a win and become bowl eligible after Matt Wells was fired with Oklahoma, Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Baylor on the schedule.Dalton Rigdon of Perryton is a senior wide receiver for the Red Raiders and decided to return for one more year after having a chance to call it quits after the COVID year and some concussion issues.“Talked a lot about at the beginning of the season coming back and putting a nice tight bow on my career and ending it the right way,” Rigdon said. “This is ending it the right way.”3. Smith? Where’s this been all yearFormer Frenship High star Donovan Smith, who played at Amarillo’s Dick Bivins Stadium a few times, was impressive and accurate in his first career college start.By halftime, Tech led 31-14 with freshman Smith igniting the offense which produced more points by half than it had at the end of the past two games.Smith was uncanny on throwing accurate long balls and by half was 14-of-18 for 209 yards and three touchdowns. The thing is, the 6-foot-5, 230-pounder also led Tech in rushing with 51 yards on eight carries.For the game, Smith finished with 25-of-32 for 322 tards and three touchdowns. He finished with 65 yads rushing, second behind Tahj Brooks at 81, 4. Local flavor for Texas TechFour Amarillo-area athletes were listed on the Texas Tech numerical roster handed out to the media. They were: Perryton senior Dalton Rigdon started at wide receiver; Tascosa redshirt freshman L.B. Moore listed third on the depth chart at defensive end; Dumas freshman defensive back Louis Ortiz; and Tascosa redshirt freshman defensive back Joseph Plunk.5. Cumbie secure a job with Joey?As crazy as the last few weeks have been for Texas Tech football, the Red Raiders were focused on this day from the get-go building that 31-14 lead at halftime.Cumbie has to get credit for this and I’m not sure his relationship with new Tech head coach Joey McGuire, but what I saw Saturday is worthy of a job on McGuire’s staff if Cumbie wants it.
