TCU opened up its fifth season in the Big 12 Conference with a 41-20 victory over the Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday morning.

The Horned Frogs are now 4-1 versus Iowa State in Big 12 play and 7-1 overall in the series history. The Frogs are now 32-11 in regular-season games.

Head football coach Gary Patterson said he wasn’t pleased about the injuries to wide receiver KaVontae Turpin, defensive end Josh Carraway and cornerback Jeff Gladney.

“Too many people got banged up, and there was not enough emotion,” Patterson said. “Here’s what happens when you don’t have emotion: People get hurt, and when you’re the nail and not the hammer, you get hurt, simple as that.”

Patterson did appreciate the freshman corner’s performance before his injury, “Gladney did a nice job until he got hurt, and they [the defense] seemed a bit more settled down than a week ago.”

Wide receiver Deanté Gray got the start at cornerback in place of Ranthony Texada for his second defensive start of his Horned Frog career, both of them against Iowa State.

“He [Deanté Gray] played a little bit, but not in the second half,” Patterson said. “He’ll probably go back to offense next week.”

Defensive end Mat Boesen saw his first game action for the Frogs in Saturday’s contest, after dealing with a shoulder injury during the first two weeks of the season. He finished the game with 1.5 sacks and a pass break-up. Boseon transferred to TCU from Boise State.

“He [Boeson] did alright, it was good to have another guy to rotate in there,” Patterson said. “We’re probably going to have to have six or seven defensive ends play this season.”

The first-quarter sack by Boesen extended TCU’s school record streak to 33 games with at least one sack. It is the second-longest active streak in the nation, behind only Ohio State with 37. Defensive end Aaron Curry had a sack to give him a team-best 2.5 on the season, and defensive end Tipa Galeai had his first sack of the season and second of his career.

Offensively, TCU had a solid outing, totaling 481 yards of total offense and 229 yards on the ground. The Frogs are now 81-5 under Patterson when rushing for at least 200 yards.  

After a field goal on their first possession, the Horned Frogs notched the first touchdown of the game with five-and-a-half minutes left in the first quarter when running back Kyle Hicks ran for an effortless 64-yard touchdown run. Hicks’ 64-yard touchdown run was the longest carry of his career. This gives him five rushing touchdowns in just three games this season.

The 64-yard scoring run by Hicks was the longest carry by a Horned Frog since Trevone Boykin had a 69-yard touchdown rush at Kansas State last season.

Hicks deflected the credit on his scoring run.

“I was just glad to have [Joseph]Noteboom running alongside of me,” Hicks said. “I was just trying to cut off is block and make a good read.”

Patterson said Hicks has been a bright spot on the team.

“It’s why Kyle Hicks is one of four captains,” Patterson said. “He’s everything you want on and off the field.”

All three running backs who played against the Cyclones ran for a touchdown. Michigan transfer Derrick Green had one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and Trevorris Johnson’s two-yard third-quarter scoring run was his first of the season and fifth of his career.

Hicks had his first career 100-yard rushing game with a team-best 117 yards on 12 carries.

TCU quarterback Kenny Hill’s one-yard scoring run in the second quarter was his team-high sixth rushing touchdown of the season. He has run for a score in all three games this season.

To start the second half, TCU’s balanced attack marched all the way to Iowa State 25-yard line after converting a fourth-and-four. On the very next play, Kenny Hill threw a strike to running back Kyle Hicks for 21-yard touchdown, increasing the Horned Frog lead to 31-7.

“That catch, he’s probably got some of the best hands and he showed them,” TCU quarterback Kenny Hill said.

TCU’s next game is Friday in Dallas against SMU at 7 p.m.