A year after appearing in the National Championship, the Frogs are fighting for a bowl game and an uppercut from Texas Tech has them down for the count.
In the last drive of the game, TCU had a chance to tie the game with a touchdown and an extra point. However, Red Raider defensive back Dadrion Taylor-Demerson intercepted his second Josh Hoover pass of the night, which sealed the game.
On that drive, they worked quick, going 44 yards down the field in 1:25 via a series of short passes.
“We’re a tempo offense, that’s what we do,” said Hoover. “We were comfortable, I was just trying to make a play there at the end and we weren’t on the same page.”
The Frogs also had trouble on the defensive side of the ball.
From missed tackles to an illegal substitution, head coach Sonny Dykes and safety Mark Perry knew all the little mistakes added up.
“We had opportunities to get them off the field and had a substitution penalty,” said Perry. “We have to clean undisciplined stuff like that up.”
Dykes said the substitution penalty felt like it was a turning point of the game. Perry agreed it was substantial to the outcome.
“We get off the field there, they don’t score and it’s a whole different ballgame,” said Perry.
The Frogs were down by 13 at the end of the second half and only had possession of the ball for nine minutes compared to Tech’s time of possession: 21 minutes.
“The biggest thing is they went for it a lot on fourth down and converted in the first half and kept drives alive,” he said. “We just couldn’t get them off the field.”
That set the Frogs back early, but Hoover said Dykes’ message to the team was to not quit.
“We were down 20-7 and came out scrapping, so you can’t hang your head about that,” said Hoover.
A third quarter comeback put the Frogs ahead 21-20, but it didn’t last long.
Hoover threw an interception to Red Raider defensive back Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, putting Texas Tech in prime scoring position.
The Red Red Raiders took advantage of it, taking the lead on a 9-yard rushing touchdown via the legs of running back Tahj Brooks and making it a 7-point game with a two-point conversion pass to wide receiver Jerand Bradley.
Brooks was a machine for the Red Raiders, totaling 146 yards rushing on the night.
With the loss against the Red Raiders, the Frogs will have to win at least two out of their next three games to gain bowl eligibility. Those three opponents are No. 7 Texas, Baylor and then No. 9 Oklahoma.
“We gotta just keep our head down and keep working,” said Perry. “I don’t want anyone to think it’s over.”
Dykes said he wasn’t focused on anything more than the next week.
“We’re one week at at time,” he said. “We just need to have a good practice and get tougher.”
Up next
The Frogs will go on to face No. 7 Texas at Amon G. Carter Stadium next Saturday. Hoover emphasized the team’s message going into the last three games of the season.
“There’s only one option and that’s not to quit.”
