TCU defense makes loud statement in shutout win over UNLV

By STEFAN STEVENSON

sstevenson@star-telegram.com

Back in August, for the first time in years, there were more questions concerning TCU’s defense than there were about the offense.

The Horned Frogs were stocked with veteran, experienced players offensively, but the defense returned only four starters.

Even Gary Patterson was hesitant to compare his 2009 defense to one of the three top-ranked units he has coached since 2000. For one, it hadn’t yet accomplished anything.

In the wake of TCU’s 41-0 mauling of UNLV on Saturday in front of 33,541 at Amon G. Carter Stadium, let the comparisons commence.

It was the first shutout by TCU since a 37-0 win over New Mexico on Nov. 3, 2007. The 2007 Frogs also shut out Baylor to open the season.

The No. 8 Horned Frogs (8-0, 4-0 Mountain West Conference) shut down the Rebels’ offense in dominating fashion, forcing 11 punts and holding the unit to a season-low 160 yards. UNLV’s previous low was 310 against Oregon State in Week 2. The Rebels (3-6, 1-4) entered the contest averaging 27.2 points and 381 yards per game.

The Frogs, ranked No. 6 in the Bowl Championship Series standings, have won 10 consecutive games dating to last season, the fourth-longest streak in the nation. The Frogs have also won 12 home games in a row and have won 54 of their last 60 in Fort Worth.

"[UNLV] ran 80 plays against Utah at home, so I’m very excited about some of the things we were able to get done defensively," said Patterson, whose team didn’t allow UNLV to enter the red zone Saturday. "I like the shutout. That’s hard to do."

The Frogs’ defense, which allowed just 44 points in October, closed out the month with its best performance of the season. TCU plays at San Diego State at 3 p.m. Saturday.

"The past couple of weeks, the touchdowns we’ve given up, it was mostly something we did wrong or didn’t do," safety Tejay Johnson said. "We feel like to pitch a shutout means we played close to a complete game. We limited our mistakes and didn’t allow anything big to happen. I think it’s one of our best performances. But I think we can do a lot better."

The veteran offense received a boost from two of its youngest contributors and overcame two first-quarter fumbles to take a 10-0 lead. Junior quarterback Andy Dalton connected with sophomore Antoine Hicks for a 75-yard scoring pass for the second consecutive week to give TCU a 10-0 lead with 4:17 left in the first quarter. Dalton rolled out to the right and threw on the run to Hicks, who caught it at the TCU 45-yard line. Hicks broke a tackle and raced half the field for the score.

"Our main focus this week was getting out to a fast start and making sure we established control of the game early on, and we did that," offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse said.

Redshirt freshman Ed Wesley’s 59-yard touchdown run increased TCU’s lead to 17-0 in the second quarter. Wesley appeared at first as if he would lose yardage on the play. After first cutting toward the left side of the line, he escaped a tackle and was forced to cut back around the right side. Wesley made it to the end zone after getting blocks from receiver Jimmy Young and Dalton.

"We’re an older group [on offense] and nobody did anything stupid, which is what happens a lot of the time — somebody gets blocked in the back," Patterson said of the play. "There’s no substitute for intelligent players and playing smart football."

A 42-yard field goal by Ross Evans with 4:58 remaining in the first half made it 20-0 at the half. The second half was more of the same for both teams.

Dalton connected with Jeremy Kerley and Wesley for touchdown passes of 14 and 21 yards to give TCU a 34-0 early in the fourth quarter. Using primarily reserves in the quarter, the scoring concluded when Marcus Jackson connected with receiver Billy Pizor for 10 yards with 1:39 left to go.

Stefan Stevenson, 817-390-7760

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