The TCU Horned Frogs, after a poor first half, responded after the break with 31 unanswered points, defeating the Buffaloes 38-13 in the season opener. 

Redshirt freshman Chandler Morris started at quarterback and struggled to move the chains. The Frogs did not score an offensive touchdown until the third quarter. 

In the first half, the TCU defense struggled to contain the Colorado offense but made timely stops to prevent any touchdowns. Colorado settled for two field goals, the team’s only points until a garbage-time touchdown in the fourth quarter. 

During the second quarter, senior wide receiver Derius Davis returned a punt 60-yards for a touchdown, giving the Frogs their first lead of the season. This was the Frogs’ only source of offense in the entire first half. 

Davis, in the third quarter, would score another touchdown with a 27-yard reverse. Derius Davis said that he didn’t realize how valuable these two plays would be to the team. 

“I just take every play as an important play,” said Davis. “That’s just the kind of player I am.”

Head coach Sonny Dykes said that Colorado played with a lot of intensity early in the game.

“We probably didn’t handle it maybe as well as we should have early,” said Dykes. “We couldn’t get anything sustained much offensively during the first half.”

TCU’s offense found its groove in the third quarter. Senior running back Emari Demercado came out fast, adding a 43-yard touchdown to put the Frogs ahead 14-6.

Late in the third quarter, Chandler Morris was checked by the athletic training staff due to a left knee injury he sustained on a spin move. After he was ruled unfit to return to play, senior Max Duggan was the next man up. Duggan came out and pushed the Frogs toward the end zone with a flurry of quarterback keepers. 

“I just went in and ran the offense,” said Duggan. “Obviously there’s things we need to improve on. There’s a lot of things we saw that we did well and I think there is a lot of momentum we can build on going into the next few weeks.”

Duggan handed off the ball to running back Kendre Miller, who secured another touchdown, giving the Frogs a 24-6 lead. 

QB Sam Jackson recorded his first collegiate touchdown with three minutes left in the game, adding another 6 points for the Frogs. This put the cherry on top of an outstanding second half of play. The Buffaloes added a garbage-time touchdown but ultimately fell to the Frogs as time expired.

Up next

TCU will host its first home game against Tarleton State this Saturday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m.