Texas Tech’s red zone dominance in 2025 isn’t just about hammering Inside Zone from their Trio Squeeze formation, it’s about keeping defenses guessing with a nasty set of counter looks that flip the script.
The Red Raiders’ ability to mix counters, misdirection, and play-action off their base zone scheme is a blueprint high school coaches can steal to keep defenses off balance inside the red zone. In Part 1, we broke down the Trio Squeeze and its bread-and-butter Inside Zone play.
Now, let’s dive into the counter wrinkles that make this package a nightmare for defensive coordinators. From classic G/H Counter to a spicy Counter Sally and a slick play-action touchdown, here’s how Texas Tech diversifies their attack.
G/H Counter: Back to the Boundary
No red zone package is complete without a counter, and Texas Tech delivers a textbook version from Trio Squeeze. With defenses loading up to stop Duo’s strong-side push, the Red Raiders flip the field by running G/H Counter to the solo receiver side (the boundary). It’s not revolutionary, but it’s just brutally effective.
Setup and Execution:
• The guard pulls to kick out the edge defender (usually the boundary-side end or outside linebacker).
• The wing wraps inside to seal the playside linebacker, creating a lane.
• The on-ball receiver (No. 2 in the stack) blocks out, neutralizing the next defender.
• The off-ball receiver (No. 3) inserts to pick off the next second-level defender to show (usually a safety or inside linebacker).
Why It Works: Defenses overcommit to the strong-side Trio Squeeze, leaving the boundary vulnerable. The pulling guard and wrapping wing create a numbers advantage, and the solo receiver often pins the corner outside, clearing the lane.
Th first clip shows the guard’s kickout blowing open a crease for a chunk gain, while the second clip has the wing sealing the linebacker for a clean 8-yard run. It’s a simple way to punish overaggressive defenses.
For High School Coaches: This is plug-and-play. Train your guard to pull with speed and hit the kickout at an angle. Drill your wing to wrap tight and bury the linebacker. Even if you’re light on talent, the misdirection keeps defenders hesitant and gives your back a fighting chance.