TCU became bowl eligible Friday as they defeated the University of Texas in Austin, notching a decisive 31-9 victory for their sixth win of the season.
“We got bowl eligible, and I’m very proud of this team,” head coach Gary Patterson said.
Patterson is now 4-2 as a head coach versus Texas in his career. TCU improved to 3-0 against the Longhorns under their head coach Charlie Strong — giving the Frogs their first three-game winning streak over the Longhorns since winning four straight games from 1935-38.
“We’re not afraid of the University of Texas, and they put their pants on the same way we do,” TCU backup quarterback Foster Sawyer said.
Here are five takeaways from the game:
Texas missed a number of red zone opportunities
The Longhorns marched all the way to the TCU 30 at the beginning of the second quarter before quarterback Shane Buechele threw an incomplete pass on fourth down. Texas kicker Trent Domingue hooked a 38-yard field goal wide right with nine minutes left in the first half. Texas had first and goal from four yards out and ran the nation’s leader in rushing yards, D’Onta Foreman, four straight times. On fourth down, Foreman was stuffed once again, but reached the ball toward the goal line but was ruled short of the end zone.
“We just had to be a wall to keep a 250-pound running back out of the end zone,” TCU linebacker Ty Summers said. “Our playcalling with blitzes off the edge, it all came together.”
Summers had a team-high 14 tackles, including a sack, to reach double figures for the eighth time in the last 10 games. He now has 105 tackles on the season.
The Longhorns squandered a number of scoring opportunities, which allowed TCU to maintain a lead.
“We survived the first half,” Patterson said. “I was very proud of them after that, and I told them that after all that to have the lead at half, we had a shot in this game.”
Kenny Hill has another wildly inconsistent performance throwing the football
TCU quarterback Kenny Hill began the game in dominant fashion, marching the Horned Frogs up the field in just 2:21 on their opening drive, which he capped with a four-yard scramble for six. Hill also had 65 yards passing on that drive, hitting four different receivers. After the opening drive, Hill threw for only 15 more yards in the first half and threw an interception.
D’Onta Foreman dominates
D’Onta Foreman moved into second on Texas’ single-season rushing list and eclipsed 2,000 yards rushing on the season with 165 yards rushing on 31 carries.
“He got about 170 yards, but some people thought he could get 400,” Patterson said. “He’s a really good back.”
Summers said even though he rushed a significant amount of yards, “it was a pleasure to play against a talent like that.”
TCU runs their way onto the scoreboard
While TCU could never find the momentum throwing the football, they beat Texas in the running game. The Horned Frog offense totaled 309 yards rushing with a number of different players contributing.
Hill ran the ball 13 times for 78 yards, including two touchdowns. Hill has nine rushing touchdowns on the year, second to running back Kyle Hicks, who has 12.
Trevorris Johnson chipped in with 11 carries, 68 yards and a touchdown.
However, TCU’s leading rushing was true freshman running back Darius Anderson. Entering the game with only 92 career rushing yards, Anderson finished the game with 103 yards rushing on three carries, including a 70-yard scoring scamper for the first touchdown of his college career.
Sawyer said that Anderson has the “it factor.”
“Darius Anderson is a baller,” Sawyer said. “Everyone on this team has the next man up mentality.”
KaVontae Turpin will return next week
Patterson had Turpin on the sidelines during Friday’s game but said he should be back next week.
Deanté Gray filled Turpin’s void admirably. Gray returned four kicks for 117 yards, including one for 57 yards, a career high. True freshman cornerback Jeff Gladney also started in place for an injured Julius Lewis.
“Deanté gave us a lot, and Jeff Gladney has practiced well the past two weeks and play played this past one and against Oklahoma State,” Patterson said.
Patterson said it is unknown if Lewis will be ready to play next Saturday.
TCU finishes off its regular season game against Kansas State in Amon G. Carter Stadium next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.
