Wyoming rout leaves Frogs one away from perfection

Final Stats

By David May / KillerFrogs.com Staff Writer

Unless you have been a TCU fan 71 years, you are now in unfamiliar waters – the purple seas of 11-0.

Despite four turnovers – two in the red zone – the No. 4 Horned Frogs (11-0, 7-0) rolled over the Wyoming Cowboys, 45-10, Saturday afternoon to remain undefeated with one regular season game remaining, next Saturday’s noon kickoff at Amon Carter Stadium against New Mexico.

A win against the Lobos, and all Frogs fans, no matter for how many years, will find themselves in a place never before ventured – a BCS bowl.

Two more wins and TCU will set a new school record with 13. The team has now won 11 games in a season for the fifth time in seven seasons and is 11-0 for just the second time in school history, the first since its national championship year of 1938.

A win over the Lobos would give TCU its second 12-win season in history, the first coming in the school’s other national championship season in 1935 when the Frogs went 12-1, including its Sugar Bowl win.

The Frogs’ margin of victory was slightly better than No. 3 Texas’ 41-10 win at Laramie earlier in the season.

"It looks like we lucked out again," said TCU coach Gary Patterson. "We turned the ball over, but we did what we needed to do today. It could have been worse."

“We did what we needed to do today,” Patterson added. “It could have been worse, but I have a lot of respect for the Wyoming Cowboys and the job they are doing right now,” Patterson stated.

For the fourth straight game, TCU’s nationally fourth-ranked offense again put up over 500 yards of total offense (507) and more than 300 yards rushing (339). TCU collected 25 first downs to just five for Wyoming. TCU tied its single-season school record for points scored with 437, and has scored at least 38 points in a school-record six consecutive games.

Also ranked fourth nationally overall, the purple defenders again proved stingy in not allowing an offensive touchdown, while limiting Wyoming to 178 yards of offense - 84 on the ground and 94 through the air.

“Today was about the same score that Texas beat Wyoming, so I think there is some comparison,” said Patterson. “I think we can play with a lot of people. We have to win one more game to be conference champs, then we’ll see how it goes.”

Wyoming head coach Dave Christensen, whose team can still become bowl-eligible with a win its last game, said there is little doubt TCU is one of the nation’s top teams.

"There's no question that TCU deserves that No. 4 ranking," Christensen said. "They are an excellent football team and we knew all along that they have no weaknesses and are very strong in all areas. ... It was a tough game."

TCU committed no penalties in the contest, the first time they have done that since the 2007 San Diego State game.

“We are a young football team that didn’t have any penalties,” Patterson said. “I appreciate that we are playing at a high level, also playing smart. That’s how you win a championship and this team has done that all year long.”

TCU didn’t blink when Wyoming’s Chris Prosinski, the recipient of a lucky bounce of the ball off an Ed Wesley fumble, raced 98 yards for a touchdown that tied the game at 10 midway through the second quarter.

The Frogs were not playing sharply, and concern crept into some TCU hearts that Wyoming (5-6, 3-4) might make this a closer game than the Frogs wanted or needed in trying to keep BCS computers and voters impressed.

TCU speedster Greg McCoy quickly eased those concerns, taking the ensuing kickoff 81 yards into the end zone to put the Frogs back up 17-10. The return seemed to inject life into the Frogs, which began methodically beating down Wyoming to pull away and win with ease.

“We got the momentum back with the touchdown return from the fumble, tied the game up and had a chance to get a stop,” said Christensen. “We turn around and kick off and they return it for a touchdown. It really shifted the momentum to their side.”

“I don’t think we played as well as we did against Utah,” said Patterson. “There wasn’t as much emotion.”

Running backs Matthew Tucker and Joseph Turner scored two touchdowns apiece, as TCU clinched at least a share of the Mountain West Conference title.

The Frogs’ first possession resulted in three incomplete passes and a punt. On its second drive, TCU moved from its own 44 to Wyoming’s 7. But Andy Dalton’s pass attempt to Jeremy Kerley crossing in the end zone was deflected and intercepted by the Cowboys’ Alex Toney.

TCU’s next offensive possession resulted in the game’s first points with a four-play, 41-yard drive ending with Tucker’s first TD from three yards out. Key in the drive was a 22-yard completion to wide receiver Jimmy Young.

Wyoming mounted a drive from their 18 yard line, and found itself first-and-goal at TCU’s 4 yard line. However, the Frogs’ defense held Wyoming to a field goal to lead 7-3 late in the first quarter.

Ross Evans kicked a 28-yard field goal to put the Frogs up, 10-3, early in the second. It was TCU’s next possession that Wesley’s fumble resulted in the Wyoming score to tie it at 10, followed by McCoy’s kick return for a 17-10 TCU advantage.

The Frogs’ last possession of the first half started at TCU’s 20. Dalton’s third down, 13-yard run gave the Frogs a new set of downs. Tucker then reeled off a 16-yard run. On second down at Wyoming’s 45, Dalton found Kerley streaking open downfield, hitting him in stride on a scoring strike to give TCU a 24-10 lead at intermission.

On Wyoming’s first possession of the third quarter, linebacker Tank Carder forced a fumble by Cowboys running back Brandon Stewart, which was recovered by Wayne Daniels at Wyoming’s 23. Four plays later, Turner scored from five yards out to put TCU up 31-10 and firmly in control before a small crowd of 15,031 on a relatively nice day in Laramie.

Wesley would fumble a second time, this time at Wyoming’s 22, killing yet another scoring opportunity.

But Wyoming wouldn’t have the ball long after McCoy made his second big play of the game, an interception of an Austin Carta-Samuels pass at to put TCU’s offense back in business at the Frogs’ 38.

Tucker then made runs of 8 and 6 yards before exploding for the final 48 yards, diving into the corner of the end zone to put TCU up 38-10 midway through the third quarter.

TCU’s next possession started at its own 48. With the help of two personal fouls on the same play – a roughing the passer penalty and an unsportsmanlike call after the whistle – that resulted in a 30-yard step off against Wyoming, the Frogs found themselves first-and-goal at Wyoming’s 10. Two five-yard runs by Turner resulted in the game’s finals points.

As the game moved into the fourth quarter, Patterson began substituting players, content with the margin of victory, even though Wyoming twice moved deep into TCU territory but were unable to score on the vaunted TCU defense. Backup running back Jercell Fort committed TCU’s third fumble and fourth turnover late in the game.

Tucker led all rushers with 134 yards on 11 carries, an average of 12.18 yards per carry. Dalton added 88 rushing yards on 12 carries, while Turner totaled 69 yards on nine touches.

Dalton was 10-of-19 passing for 168 yards with the one interception and the one scoring toss. Kerely hauled in four passes for 87 yards and one score while Young and Ryan Christian each had two receptions.

Daryl Washington registered a team-leading 11 tackles, including four solo stops. Daniels had TCU’s lone sack.

Now, the Frogs one more hurdle to clear before it can make its way to the next level of its season pyramid goal of going to a BCS game and maybe, just maybe playing in the BCS title game.

"Today was getting ourselves ready," Patterson said. "This group has done a great job of taking the next ball game. That's why we are at where we're at right now."

Game notes

• The Horned Frogs' seniors picked up their 41st victory, tying them for the most in TCU history with last year's senior class.

• TCU extended its winning streak to 13 games. It's the Horned Frogs' longest streak of victories since winning their final 10 games in 2005 and the opening three contests in 2006.

• TCU improved to 61-1 under head coach Gary Patterson when allowing 17 points or less.

• TCU scored in its 214th consecutive game, the third-longest active streak in the nation and tied for 13th all-time.

• Jeremy Kerley's 37 punt return yards today give him 480 on the year, moving him past Cy Leland (473, 1930) into fourth place on TCU's single-season chart. Kerley is 15 yards shy of passing Lindy Berry (494, 1947) for third.

• Bart Johnson's 7-yard reception in the second quarter extended his team-best streak to 20 consecutive games with at least one catch.

• Jimmy Young's two receptions for 25 yards have tied him with LaTarence Dunbar (109, 1999-02) for 10th on TCU's all-time list.

• Dalton's 45-yard touchdown pass to Kerley in the second quarter was his 39th career scoring toss, moving him one shy of tying Sam Baugh (40, 1934-36) for the second-most touchdown passes in a career.

• With the win, Dalton (28-6) also moves one win shy of tying Sam Baugh (29-7-2, 1934-36) for the most wins by a TCU starting quarterback.