Texas Tech missed Taylor Symmank, the kickoff specialist, in the Red Raiders’ 31-26 loss Saturday at West Virginia. Tech didn’t really miss Symmank the punter that much.
Michael Barden made sure of that.
On the first of the freshman’s punts, he got off a 43-yarder while kicking out of his end zone. Then came a 49-yarder that was fair caught at the 9-yard line and a 36-yarder that Tevin Madison easily downed at the 1.
His last was a 47-yarder on which the Mountaineers got a 1-yard return and a penalty for an illegal block that moved them back to their 13.