FORT WORTH, TX – TCU (2-2, 0-1) takes their second loss of the season to Texas (4-1, 2-0) 32-27 on Saturday afternoon.
TCU started the game off hot with a 87-yard punt return from J.D. Spielman which turned into a Horned Frog touchdown completed by running back Zach Evans. The momentum was with the Frogs and the defense stopped Texas forcing a field goal. TCU was up 7-3 to start the first quarter.
Things were looking good until a targeting call was made on TCU’s safety T.J. Carter. After an extensive review he was ejected from the game. Carter had an amazing hit on Texas wide receiver Jordan Whittington that forced the ball out of his hands on third down from the Longhorn seven. What would have been a great play turned into a penalty which resulted in TCU being out a defensive player. Texas capitalized and running back Bijan Robinson ran for a 27-yard touchdown putting Texas on top 10-7. The Horned Frogs momentum was gone after that and Texas started racking up the points.
“The targeting took the wind out of our sails a little bit.” Head Coach Gary Patterson told us post game.
TCU’s defense held their own today and redeemed themselves from an awful performance against SMU last Saturday. The Horned Frog defense forced Texas to take the field goal on four different occasions.
The Horned Frogs offense continued to struggle. Derius Davis had two fumbles on the afternoon and Max Duggan had one fumble after a blindside sack from Anthony Cook forced the ball out of Duggan’s hands. Duggan finished the night converting on 20-of-28 passes for 182 yards and one touchdown. He also had 33 yards rushing for 16 carries.
Zach Evans led TCU with 113 yards for 15 carries and one touchdown. Evans entered this game as Big 12’s top rusher with Robinson right behind him. Robinson had a significant role in today’s win for the Longhorns. He ran for 216 yards with two touchdowns.
TCU ran 13 plays for a 99-yard drive for a touchdown with 4:30 minutes left in the game to put them within one score but they never got the ball back the remainder of the game.
TCU will head to Lubbock to take on Texas Tech next week for their first road game of the season. Kickoff is set for 6:00 P.M.
