Four turnovers result in rough end to QB Doege's 2012 campaign

Completing 30 of 40 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns likely results in victory and praise.

Those statistics, though, were not enough to overshadow quarterback Seth Doege's three interceptions and lost fumble during Texas Tech's 52-45 overtime loss to Baylor on Saturday at Cowboys Stadium. Such an ending to what has been an rather productive
season for Doege was bad enough that Tech coach Tommy Tuberville immediately addressed it to begin post-game interviews.

 

"Seth a lot of people will say, 'Three interceptions,'" Tuberville said. "But I tell you what, I'll take that kid to battle every time. He had made a lot of plays. He's one of those kids that he'll take it harder than anybody."

The turn of events was unfortunate for Doege, who earlier had taken the NCAA lead in touchdowns passes. By afternoon's end, Doege has pushed his total to 38, just one ahead of West Virginia's Geno Smith and Marshall's Rakeem Cato.

One of Doege's passes was returned for a touchdown by Baylor linebacker Eddie Lackey. Adding salt to the wound was the fact that Lackey's defensive touchdown gave the Bears their first lead of the game. Tech, at one point, led 21-7.

Lackey intercepted a second Doege pass toward the end of regulation, which resulted in a missed field goal by Baylor kicker Aaron Jones from 48 yards. The field goal would have won the game for the Bears considering it was kicked with two seconds remaining.

At the end of the day, wide receiver Darrin Moore, Doege's favorite target on the day (13 catches, 186 yards and two scores), said Doege was not the lone factor in what became Tech's fifth loss of the season.

"Basically, 'Keep your head up,'" Moore said he would tell his quarterback after the loss. "It's a team game, it's not his fault. 

"We all had our part in this loss."

By Jose Rodriguez — Special to the Star-Telegram