Will Hammond tosses TD in return from injury as No. 12 Texas Tech beats Abilene Christian 33-10

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Will Hammond threw for 298 yards and a touchdown in his return from last year’s season-ending knee injury and No. 12 Texas Tech beat Abilene Christian 33-10 on Saturday night in the opener for the defending Big 12 champion.

Hammond made good on coach Joey McGuire’s declarations throughout the summer that his expected starter would be ready opening night, slightly more than 10 months after tearing the ACL in his right knee.

“I told him before the game, I said, ‘First, be Will Hammond, and take a deep breath.’” McGuire said. “You’ve got to imagine how geeked up that kid was to play tonight. To go through everything he’s gone through, his rehab and everything. I thought he did a really good job controlling his emotions.”

Quinten Joyner and J’Koby Williams ran for touchdowns in the first quarter, but the Red Raiders didn’t find the end zone again until Hammond’s 64-yard pass to Malcolm Simmons in the final 3 minutes.

After Simmons’ score, Alex Broome returned the kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown for the Wildcats (0-2).

Stone Harrington kicked four field goals for the Red Raiders, who had a school-record 12 victories last season while winning their first Big 12 title. Harrington had a 28-yarder after John Curry’s interception on the first play of the second half put Texas Tech on the ACU 13.

The Red Raiders looked to Hammond as the starter after the offseason saga involving Brendan Sorsby. The Cincinnati transfer was in the Texas Tech program when details of his sports gambling emerged, including bets on Indiana when he was a freshman with the Hoosiers.

A legal battled ensued as Texas Tech stuck with its plan to play Sorsby, but he eventually withdrew a lawsuit that granted him an injunction to be eligible. Sorsby left the program and says he will focus on entering next year’s NFL draft.

The takeaway

Abilene Christian: The Wildcats’ previous visit to Lubbock two years ago was an unexpected thriller, with the Red Raiders surviving 52-51 in overtime. ACU had 506 passing yards that night, but managed just 119 against a transformed Texas Tech defense that was among the best in the country last season.

Texas Tech: Joyner’s first regular-season touch with the Red Raiders was a 14-run for the first points of the game. He missed all of last season after transferring from Southern California and injuring a knee in the preseason.

Transfer QB makes Texas Tech debut

Tommy Castellanos made his QB debut for the Red Raiders with the handoff to Joyner on the first scoring play. He was a receiver in NFL rookie minicamp with the Miami Dolphins but never joined the roster.

The Florida State transfer who also played at Boston College was among nine college athletes granted a fifth season of eligibility by a judge, clearing him to play this season after the NCAA had denied his waiver request and he entered the NFL draft.

Up next

Abilene Christian: Stephen F. Austin visits next Saturday.

Texas Tech: At Oregon State next Saturday.

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