MidValleySports.Com

Tech Qbs Davis Webb (left) & Michael Brewer (right) conspiring.

(San Diego)- Texas Tech quarterback Davis Webb threw four first half touchdown passes to lead the Red Raiders to 37-23 victory over the Arizona State Sun Devils on Monday night at the National University Holiday Bowl.

While the total yards battle doesn’t look too bad, Sun Devils 412 against 484 for the Red Raiders, it was when, it was how, and it was where Texas Tech did its damage and how ASU did not.

The Red Raiders scored on four our their first five possessions, all touchdowns. Four of them from Davis to Rodney Hall (1-yd), Jakeem Grant (18 & 21-yds), and Brad Marquez (23-yds).

On the flip side the Sun Devils botched touchdown scoring opportunities and were forced to settle for field goals. They did get a 20-yard touchdown run from D.J. Foster, but it was a first and goal debacle at the Texas Tech one in the final seconds of the first half that doomed their night.

Trailing 27-13 after the Foster touchdown run, Arizona State marched 69 yards on 17 plays. An offside call against the Red Raiders put them at the one with a first down. On first down a bad snap led to quarterback Taylor Kelly getting tackled for a 6-yard loss. On second down, and the clock ticking, Kelly was tackled for no gain.

With 20 seconds left on the clock the Sun Devils raced in Zane Gonzalez for a field goal, instead of spiking the ball on third down to stop the clock. The rushed field goal attempt missed wide left.

Kelly scored on a 44-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, but that score was immediately countered by Texas Tech’s Reginald Davis who raced 90-yards to paydirt on the kick-off.

Davis finished 28 of 41 for 403 yards for Texas Tech, his primary target was Jace Amaro with 8 catches for 112 yards. For Arizona State Kelly finished 16 of 29 for 125 yards and an interception. He was sacked three times.

***Arizona State finishes the season with 10-4 record. Texas Tech, with its first win since October 19th, closes 2013 with a 8-5 record.

***Tech’s Davis Webb completed passes to 10 different receivers.

***This was the 36th Holiday Bowl game.

***Davis was voted offensive MVP

***Red Raider linebacker Will Smith was voted defensive MVP.

***The Sun Devils are now 0-4 in the Holiday Bowl, and 13-13-1 all time in bowl games.

***Texas Tech punter Ryan Erxleben is the son of University of Texas all-time great Russell Erxleben, who was a number one draft pick of the New Orleans Saints in 1979 (11th overall—two picks later the San Diego Chargers drafted Kellen Winslow)

***D.J. Foster rushed for 132 yards and touchdown.