Texas Tech’s offense found a different gear Saturday, and the offensive line felt the effects of it.
In the Red Raiders’ 34-26 win over Arizona, No. 15 Texas Tech (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) leaned into a rushing attack that looked a little different than usual.
Quarterback Thomas Castellanos made his first full-time start of the season and turned it into a dual-threat showcase, throwing for 144 yards and two touchdowns while adding 117 yards and another score on the ground. Running back J’Koby Williams piled up 175 yards on 14 carries, highlighted by a 64-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that helped close the door on Arizona.
For offensive lineman Jacob Ponton, Castellanos’ ability to move changed the feel of the job up front.
“Yeah, he’s a great quarterback. It’s great to have him back there, and like I said earlier with, and he said with him popping out wherever, finish your blocks, he’s going to make you look good when you don’t look good, and it’s just about playing together and finishing your blocks for him,” Ponton said.
Ponton also pointed to the bigger picture behind Texas Tech’s 472-yard offensive output. Even though linemen don’t show up in the box score, he said the production reflects how far the group has come together this season.
“Yeah, I love it, we’ve got a massive O-line and we’re a line that works great together. Those 330 yards in the last game means a lot to us and we’re going to keep proving ourselves as an O-line and as a unit,” he said.
“I think we have a very process-orientated team. Obviously the outcome’s important to us, but it’s not about that.
It’s about the work that we put in every day and regardless of the outcome, we’re going to come back the next day and put even more work into the next week.”
Ponton said the line’s growth has been shaped by three different “Coach McGuire”s: head coach Joey McGuire, running backs coach Garrett McGuire, and offensive line coach Clay McGuire, who is not related.
“Yeah, Coach Clay has done a great job, keeping us together as an O-line, making us talk a lot about playing five as one, and Coach (Joey) McGuire’s preached that,” he said. “All three Coach McGuire’s have preached that, and it’s something we’ve worked really hard on.”
Texas Tech is back at Galaxy Stadium on Saturday against West Virginia. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m.
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