Donovan Smith, Houston Football News: Draft Scout Player News

09/10/22 - QB Donovan Smith, rSr/2025, Houston

Donovan Smith ran 9 yards for a touchdown in the second overtime, lifting Texas Tech to a 33-30 victory over No. 25 Houston on Saturday. A back-and-forth finish ended with the Red Raiders (2-0) beating a ranked nonconference opponent in the regular season for the first time since 1989, a span of 14 games. After Houston's Bubba Baxa opened the second OT with a 20-yard field goal, Smith broke into the open field and ran untouched to the end zone, sending Texas Tech students and fans streaming onto the field. Baxa kicked a go-ahead 35-yard field goal with 37 seconds remaining in regulation after Gervarrius Owens returned Smith's second interception to the Texas Tech 21 in the final two minutes. Smith answered by leading the Red Raiders to a tying 47-yarder from Trey Wolff with three seconds to go, keyed by Smith's 27-yard scramble. Wolff replaced Gino Garcia, who missed from 45 earlier in the fourth quarter.

The Cougars (1-1) erased a 17-3 halftime deficit, getting even early in the fourth quarter when Art Green stepped in front of a pass from Smith and returned it 54 yards for a TD. Still, Houston's 12-game regular-season winning streak ended. Houston also trailed by two touchdowns in the second half of another overtime game in last week's opener, rallying from 21-7 down entering the fourth quarter for a 37-35 double-overtime victory over UTSA. Both teams scored touchdowns in the first overtime after backing themselves up. Smith converted on fourth-and-20 with a 21-yard completion to Jerand Bradley. The Red Raiders forced the second OT on Tahj Brooks' 4-yard scoring run. Tune faced second-and-21 to open overtime before a 19-yard completion to Nathaniel Dell. Three plays later, he threw a 15-yard TD pass to Matthew Golden. - Texas Tech/AP College Football

rSr/2025