TCU Falls Short in Triple Overtime Thriller
After Texas Tech’s Kenny Williams’ 47-yard touchdown run to put Tech up 46-36, things looked bleak for TCU. There were just over four minutes to go in the game. All the momentum was with Texas Tech. TCU had a redshirt freshman, Trevone Boykin, at quarterback. Their offense hadn’t done anything up to that point in the fourth quarter, gaining just one yard in the quarter.
Oct 20, 2012; Fort Worth, TX, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Trevone Boykin (2) throws against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Texas Tech won 56-53. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-US PRESSWIRE
But that is when Boykin and the offense went to work. Boykin found his rhythm through the air, eventually hooking up with LaDarius Brown for a 60-yard touchdown to pull TCU within three. After Texas Tech went three-and-out, Boykin drove TCU down the field for the game-tying field goal. After it looked like TCU would lose this game, the tied it and forced overtime.
Back and forth the two teams went in overtime. TCU struck first in overtime after Boykin found Josh Boyce for a touchdown, putting TCU up 43-36. The momentum pendulum had swung completely to TCU’s side, but Texas Tech wasn’t worried. They tied the game up, and then scored a touchdown in the second overtime. The TCU Horned Frogs answered back when Boykin threw a touchdown pass to B.J. Catalon to tie the game up 50-50. A field goal in overtime number three gave TCU the lead. All TCU needed was one defensive stop. They didn’t get it. Texas Tech quarterback Seth Douge threw the game-winning touchdown to lift Texas Tech 56-53 over TCU. It was a crushing defeat for TCU. After they had fought so hard to tie the game, this loss has to sting.
Despite the score, TCU’s run defense actually played really well. They allowed just seventy-one yards rushing, forty-seven of them coming on that touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Pass defense was the issue. Texas Tech finished with just 318 passing yards and that includes the three overtime periods which isn’t terrible, but quarterback Seth Douge threw seven touchdown passes. Seven! When they needed a stop the most, TCU’s defense failed to deliver. The seven touchdown passes has to make head coach Gary Pattersoncringe.
Oct 20, 2012; Fort Worth, TX, USA; TCU Horned Frogs running back Matthew Tucker (29) runs with the ball during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Texas Tech won 56-53. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-US PRESSWIRE
Once again, TCU’s offense was solid. A group effort running the ball led to 184 yards. Boykin was great, throwing for over 300 yards and four touchdowns. But once again, turnovers keep haunting TCU; they had three more turnovers in Saturday’s game. Their defense forced zero. You can’t keep turning the ball over and expect to comeback and win games. Boykin is very young and he will learn, so TCU fans and even the coaching staff may just have to live with this. It is important though that the coaching staff stress ball security this week: Boykin needs to learn to protect the football.
The game featured two ranked teams and was full of excitement. Some people thought Texas Tech might have a letdown after their blowout win over West Virginia the week before., but that didn’t happen. TCU has shown that they can hang with the Big 12 so far this year, and that they can play the style of play in the Big 12. They just can’t shoot themselves in the foot with turnovers.
Next week, TCU goes on the road to face Oklahoma State, Saturday, October 27 at 3:30 PM ET. The Cowboys are coming off of a 31-10 win over Iowa State last week. Oklahoma State has a very good offense ranking in the top ten in the country in passing yards, rushing yards and points scored. Granted the majority of those points have come in their out of conference schedule against some bad opponents (84-0 Savannah State, 65-24), but they are still an offense that TCU has to be careful about preparing for. It’s going to be a tough test for TCU, a daunting challenge. If TCU protects the football, they have a good shot of beating Oklahoma State and getting back on the winning track.