Austin Romaine’s Historic Pick-6s Propel Texas Tech Past Sam Houston
LUBBOCK, Texas — In a game that initially seemed closer than expected, Texas Tech linebacker Austin Romaine etched his name into the record books, becoming the first FBS player in 13 years to return two interceptions for touchdowns on consecutive throws. The Red Raiders ultimately pulled away from Sam Houston, but not before Romaine’s heroics turned a tight contest into a decisive victory.
Both of Romaine’s pick-6s came in the opening minute of the second quarter, and remarkably, they were against different quarterbacks. “I was in disbelief that I did it twice in a row,” Romaine said after the game. His first interception came off Sam Houston’s Brett Holloway, and he followed it up with another return for a score on the very next throw, stunning the Bearkats and energizing the home crowd. Despite being nearly five-touchdown favorites, Texas Tech led only 21-14 at halftime, thanks in part to Romaine’s defensive scores keeping Sam Houston within striking distance.
The Red Raiders finally seized control in the first five minutes after the break. Cameron Dickey ran for his second touchdown of the game, a 13-yarder, and Will Hammond connected with Coy Eakin on a 21-yard scoring strike to extend the lead. Dickey’s two rushing scores complemented Romaine’s defensive outburst, while Hammond’s touchdown pass put the game out of reach. Texas Tech’s offense, which had struggled to find consistency in the first half, found its rhythm in the third quarter, amassing 470 total yards on 66 plays compared to Sam Houston’s 269 yards on 65 plays. The time of possession also favored the Red Raiders, 36:04 to 23:56.
For Sam Houston, the loss drops them to 1-3 on the season, while Texas Tech improves to 4-0. The game will be remembered for Romaine’s unprecedented feat, a rare defensive performance that overshadowed the offensive fireworks. As the season progresses, the Red Raiders will look to build on this momentum, while the Bearkats search for answers after a promising start slipped away in a
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