LUBBOCK (Interstat) — Texas Tech defeated Sam Houston 49-14 on Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game. The Red Raiders improved to 4-0, while the visiting Bearkats fell to 1-3. Texas Tech scored in every quarter and finished with 49 points. Sam Houston finished with 14 points. The Red Raiders controlled the line of scrimmage for much of the game and used a defensive touchdown to help build their lead. The Bearkats stayed within reach early before Texas Tech pulled away in the second half.

Sam Houston had the first scoring opportunity. Sam Carpenter attempted a 48-yard field goal with 8:27 remaining in the first quarter, but the kick was no good. Texas Tech then moved ahead later in the opening period. Cameron Dickey rushed up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown with 5:11 left in the first quarter. Stone Harrington made the extra point. The Red Raiders led after the first quarter, and their defense kept Sam Houston from answering immediately.

Texas Tech added to its lead in the second quarter with a defensive score. A. Romaine intercepted a pass and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown. Harrington made the extra point. Sam Houston responded through the air. Landyn Locke completed a deep middle pass to Tim Burns Jr. for a 52-yard touchdown. Burns caught the ball near the Texas Tech 3-yard line and finished the play in the end zone. Carpenter made the extra point. Later in the quarter, Locke connected with Chris Reed on a short middle pass for a 9-yard touchdown. Carpenter’s kick again cut into the Texas Tech lead. The Red Raiders still held the advantage after a back-and-forth second quarter.

The second half opened with Texas Tech regaining momentum. Cameron Dickey ran left for a 13-yard touchdown. Harrington added the extra point. The Red Raiders then scored through the air when Will Hammond completed a deep right pass to Coy Eakin for a 21-yard touchdown. Harrington’s kick extended the lead. Sam Houston could not sustain drives after its two touchdowns, and Texas Tech’s defense forced punts and limited the Bearkats’ chances. The Red Raiders entered the fourth quarter with a firm lead.

Texas Tech pulled away in the fourth quarter. Will Hammond rushed up the middle for a 23-yard touchdown. Harrington made the extra point. Cameron Dickey added a 6-yard rushing score on a run to the left. Later, T. Castellanos completed a deep right pass to Malcolm Simmons for a 27-yard touchdown. Harrington’s extra point finished the scoring. Sam Houston was held scoreless in the second half, and the Red Raiders closed out the win. Texas Tech finished with 49 points and Sam Houston finished with 14.

Sam Houston entered the game after a 59-0 home win over Nicholls State earlier this season. The Bearkats had also lost 23-17 to Tulsa at home and 24-21 at Troy. Texas Tech came in after a 28-26 home win over Houston, a 35-24 road win at Oregon State and a 33-10 home victory over Abilene Christian. The Red Raiders’ win kept their record perfect at 4-0. Sam Houston’s record moved to 1-3. Texas Tech’s schedule ahead includes a trip to Colorado, a home game against Arizona State, a road game at Cincinnati and home games against Arizona and West Virginia. The Red Raiders also have road games at Oklahoma State and Baylor and a home meeting with Texas Christian. Sam Houston’s upcoming slate includes a road game at Liberty, home games against Western Kentucky and New Mexico State and a trip to Missouri State. The Bearkats also are scheduled to play at Jacksonville State, host Kennesaw State and Middle Tennessee and travel to Florida International.

The game featured several key performers for both teams. Sam Houston’s listed key players included Kamari Maxwell, Ishmel Atkins, Dean Ford, Justin Cottrell, Brian Bates Jr., Lyric Smith, Caesar Magee, Railyn Adams, Brody Henderson, Tokyo Gordon, Dravon Wilson, Chris Reed, Darrick Bledsoe III, Grady O’Neill, Kyan Berry-Johnson, Tim Burns Jr., Jerrian Parker Jr., Landan Brown, Alton McCaskill, Brett Holloway, Elijah Groves, Cal Joseph, Sam Carpenter, Joseph Opara, Darien Jackson, Eli Wallace, Dylan Frazier, Jabaric Sullivan, Terrence Guillory II, Braylen Wortham, Landyn Locke, Jalyn Stanford, Tyler Bailey, Mike King Jr., Aaron Edwards, Josh Alexander-Felton, Cameron Franklin, Jace Arnold and Caius Coy. Texas Tech’s list included Micah Hudson, John Curry, Charles Anderson Jr., LaDamion Guyton, Julien Laventure, Ben Roberts, Brenden Jordan, Corey Platt Jr., Austin Romaine, Jalen Jones and Brice Pollock. The provided summary did not include statistical lines for those players. The scoring plays and turnovers remained the defining moments of the game.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Texas Tech 40, Sam Houston 35. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Texas Tech with a 99.7 percent probability to win. Sam Houston had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +34.5. The total score of 63 went under the over/under line of 55.5.