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SAN DIEGO — TCU’s defense, which entered Saturday’s game ranked No. 1 in the nation, was missing two key components against San Diego State, but the Frogs dominated just the same.
Cornerback Rafael Priest and strong safety Colin Jones did not play because of injuries, but their replacements — Greg McCoy and Tyler Luttrell, respectively — came up big. Both had interceptions of Aztecs quarterback Ryan Lindley and helped limit San Diego State’s pass-oriented offense to 279 yards. Lindley, who came in completing nearly 56 percent of his passes, was held to 16 completions in 34 attempts. Lindley had a streak of 124 attempts without an interception snapped Saturday.Luttrell started for Jones the first three games of the season as Jones recovered from a hamstring injury suffered early in August camp. Jones didn’t travel with the team to San Diego, but Priest was on the sideline."We’ll see if Colin is ready to go by Saturday. I felt like we needed to hold [Priest] out too to get ready for next Saturday," coach Gary Patterson said. "He just wasn’t ready in pregame."Reserves producing is crucial to teams with title aspirations, Patterson said."It’s how you win championships," he said. "If your No. 1’s aren’t ready, a 2 or 3 has to step up and get the job done. If they don’t, then you get beat."Patterson was pleased with the defense’s performance, especially holding the Aztecs out of the end zone until late in the third quarter, when the Frogs had a 45-6 lead."They did all right," he said. "Whatever [the Aztecs] got they had to work at."A worthy penaltyAndy Dalton was flagged for an excessive celebration penalty after his 13-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Dalton pointed to a wristband he was wearing in tribute to former TCU quarterbacks coach Dick Winder’s granddaughter, Pressly, who is battling leukemia."She made these bracelets and I’ve been wearing one ever since I got it," Dalton explained after the game. "I thought she’d be watching the game so I thought I’d point to it. I wasn’t expecting [the penalty]. I guess it was a deserved, but I thought it was for a good cause."Winder was Dalton’s position coach when he was a freshman in 2006. Big day for ChristianRyan Christian was a big part of the offense in 2008, but this year the senior has been used less as the offense has become more diversified. A concussion against SMU forced him to miss two games, so he took a backseat as receivers such as Bart Johnson, Curtis Clay and Jimmy Young became primary targets for Andy Dalton. Christian was second on the team in 2008 with 30 receptions for 321 yards but entered Saturday’s game with nine catches for 57 yards.Christian’s 106 yards on three catches, including touchdowns of 44 and 29 yards, were a welcome reminder of how dangerous he can be."That’s not new for him," Gary Patterson said. "He’s been there all the time. He’s a problem [for defenses] because he’s a wide receiver, he’s a running back; he can be everything."Christian’s 44-yarder was the first receiving score of his career and his longest catch. Christian also had a 33-yard reception in the first quarter that set up Andy Dalton’s 13-yard touchdown run that gave TCU a 14-0 lead.Swim team spiritIt was 72 degrees at kickoff but if you were in the shade it was a little chilly. Fortunately, 19 shirtless members of the TCU swim team were basking in a sun-splashed row at Qualcomm Stadium when they lined up to spell GO TCU FROG FOOTBALL!! with letters painted on their chests. The team was in town for a meet at San Diego State.Stefan Stevenson, 817-390-7760
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