Texas Tech holds off Arizona to 3-0 start in Big 12 play

Gino Garcia hit a 41-yard field goal with 2:21 left and Tahj Brooks scored a late touchdown after a turnover as Texas Tech beat Arizona 28-22 on Saturday night in Tucson, Ariz.

Brooks scored on a 32-yard run for a 28-19 lead after Texas Tech (5-1, 3-0 Big 12) fumbled the ball off Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan and recovered the Wildcats' fumble with 2:12 to play 43 had gone. Brooks scored three touchdowns on the ground and rushed for 128 yards on 21 carries.

Tyler Loop made a 52-yard field goal with 54 seconds left for Arizona (3-2, 1-1), but the Red Raiders recovered with an onside kick and ran out of time.

Brooks' two lost fumbles were significant until the end of the game, as they helped the Wildcats erase an 18-3 halftime deficit. The hosts took their first lead at 19-18 when Loop hit a 37-yard field goal with 10:07 left in the fourth quarter.

Loop converted a school-record five field goals on six attempts and missed his fifth attempt from 48 yards out, which would have given Arizona a four-point lead with 4:52 to play.

On the ensuing possession, Texas Tech managed its longest drive of the second half before stalling at the Arizona 23. That was close enough for Garcia, who sank his 41-yarder with the ball.

Texas Tech is off to its first 3-0 start in Big 12 play since 2013.

Behren Morton completed 17 of 29 passes for 214 yards for the Red Raiders. Caleb Douglas caught five passes for 116 yards. Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez made 13 tackles, had a sack and forced McMillan's fumble.

Arizona's Noah Fifita completed 28 of 49 passes for 301 yards. He was picked up twice. McMillan led the receiving group with eight receptions for 161 yards.

Brooks scored twice in the first half on runs of 3 and 9 yards, with the second score coming with 1:38 left in the break. A two-point conversion attempt after that second touchdown was successful, giving Texas Tech a 15-3 lead.

Garcia made a 30-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter.

–Field level media