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Webb's hot start leads Texas Tech to Holiday Bowl victory

Dec 31, 2013 - 7:34 AM San Diego, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - A week ago, Kliff Kingsbury didn't know who his starting quarterback would be heading into Monday night's Holiday Bowl.

He certainly picked the right guy.

Davis Webb tossed four touchdown passes and threw for 403 yards as Texas Tech defeated No. 16 Arizona State 37-23 at Qualcomm Stadium.

Webb completed 18 of his first 21 passes for 289 yards and his four scores in the first 20 minutes of action as the Red Raiders raced out to a 27-6 advantage early in the second.

Arizona State never got within less than seven the rest of the way.

Webb got the nod after walk-on true freshman Baker Mayfield announced he was transferring. Mayfield threw for 2,315 yards, 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season.

The first-year head coach Kingsbury had previously declined to name a starter during bowl preperations, but went with the freshman Webb over sophomore Michael Brewer.

Webb had started five games this year.

Webb was 28-of-41 for the Red Raiders (8-5), who had dropped five straight to close the regular season.

Jakeem Grant had six receptions for 89 yards and two touchdowns, while Jace Amaro caught eight passes for 112 yards in the triumph.

Taylor Kelly threw for 125 yards and an interception on 16-of-29 efficiency and added 177 yards rushing on 25 carries for Arizona State (10-4), which had won seven of its last eight tilts coming in.

Faced with a 3rd-and-11 at the ASU 21, Webb found Grant over the middle for his fourth TD pass and his 13th straight completion to stake the Red Raiders their 21-point advantage at the 10:08 mark of the second.

Webb was 5-of-5 on third down at that point.

D.J. Foster scampered in for a 20-yard score on the Sun Devils' next touch, and ASU got the ball right back following a Texas Tech punt.

Kelly drove the Sun Devils down to the Texas Tech 1, but was stuffed for a 6- yard loss on an attempted run. Kelly ran for no gain on second down and with the clock winding down, ASU elected to send the field goal unit onto the field instead of clocking the ball.

Zane Gonzalez then hooked the 24-yard field goal wide left with two seconds left in the half, spoiling a 16-play, 69-yard march.

Kelly broke off a 44-yard TD run to cap ASU's opening trek of the second half to pull the Sun Devils within 27-20, but they never got any closer as Reginald Davis returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a score.

Ryan Bustin booted through a 23-yard field goal later in the third to extend the Texas Tech margin to 37-20.

Gonzalez kicked a 33-yard field goal to again make it a two-possession game early in the fourth, and the Sun Devils' defense forced a punt to get the ball back with 11:42 to play.

Richard Smith, who ran free down the middle of the field on a post pattern, bobbled a well-thrown pass by Kelly. Kelly was then sacked by Sam Eguavoen for an 8-yard loss and ASU punted the ball two plays later.

Texas Tech then took the next 3:39 off the clock as ASU regained possession with 4:56 to play, but Justin Nelson intercepted a Kelly pass with 3:35 remaining to seal the outcome.

Earlier, Webb flipped a 1-yard TD pass to Rodney Hall on Texas Tech's opening series of the game and then hit Grant for an 18-yard score on its next touch as the Red Raiders took a 13-0 advantage.

Gonzalez then knocked through a pair of field goals from 44 and 31 yards, before Webb hit Bradley Marquez for a 23-yard score 30 seconds into the second to make it 20-6.

Game Notes

Texas Tech finished 9-of-16 on third down and outgained Arizona State, 484-412 ... Foster ran for 131 yards on 20 totes ... Webb's four TD passes tied a Holiday Bowl record. BYU's Jim McMahon (1980), Kansas State's Brian Kavanagh (1995) and Texas' Major Applewhite (2001) also accomplished the feat.