Barrage of mid-game injuries doesn’t stop TCU from pulling out ‘gutsy’ Revivalry win

TCU lost its starting quarterback in the first quarter. The top two running backs exited with injuries. A standout linebacker who had just returned from an injury didn’t make it through the first half.

Yet, somehow with a third-string quarterback and a third-string running back and a number of other reserves on the field, TCU managed to beat its biggest rival on Saturday at McLane Stadium.

TCU 16, Baylor 9.

“That was a gutsy win,” coach Gary Patterson said. “You want to know what kind of heart and what this program is about, you just need to watch that ballgame. There wasn’t any reason why we should have won that ballgame today, to be honest with you.”

But the Frogs did and kept their bowl dreams alive by improving to 5-6. TCU will have a chance to reach the postseason by winning the regular-season finale against Oklahoma State next Saturday.

The win was TCU’s fourth-straight over Baylor, making it the longest winning TCU streak in the Revivalry since 1971. The Frogs now lead the series 55-52-7.

Fifth-year senior Grayson Muehlstein is the projected starting quarterback with Mike Collins doubtful after sustaining a right leg injury that knocked him out of the Baylor game.

TCU is already without the season’s opening day starter, Shawn Robinson, who underwent season-ending shoulder surgery last month.

Muehlstein has waited patiently for his turn and didn’t disappoint against the Bears. He took care of the ball and managed the offense well enough to get a win.

Asked his thoughts when Collins went down, Muehlstein said: “My heart rate picked up a little bit. I was like, ‘All right, well, I’ve got to go step up. I was ready, mentally focused, ready to take control if I had to.

“I’ve been here for awhile. I’ve been in the program. I know offense pretty well. I’ve been doing it for five years, so I guess when you go in you don’t even think about it.”

Muehlstein’s first completion of the day happened to be a 65-yard touchdown to Jalen Reagor on a jailbreak screen.

Reagor turned what looked like a negative play into a touchdown, breaking tackles and bouncing off defenders, to give TCU a 9-6 lead in the second quarter.

“It’s supposed to go back inside but, the way I saw it, I gotta make something happen,” said Reagor, who tied Josh Doctson for longest consecutive game streak with a receiving touchdown with six.

“I just broke a few tackles and saw a lot of green. Had to go score.”

Reagor scored TCU’s other touchdown in the second half. Facing a fourth-and-1 from the Baylor 37, TCU went into a wildcat formation with third-string running back Emari Demercado taking the direct snap.

Reagor came around on a reverse, caught a seamless pitch from Demercado and raced 37 yards untouched to the end zone.

“I knew I was going to get the first down,” Reagor said. “I was either going to have to beat the defensive end or the safety to the spot, and I’m pretty fast. I should be able to.”

Reagor had 118 all-purpose yards (86 receiving, 32 rushing). Muehlstein, who had one career completion going into it, finished 11-for-15 passing for 137 yards and a TD.

Demercado, who is the only healthy scholarship running back with Darius Anderson and Sewo Olonilua going down with injuries, had career-highs in carries (15) and yards (60).

In the end, those two touchdowns by Reagor and a field goal by Jonathan Song were enough to get the win. TCU’s defense held Baylor to a season-low in points, including just a field goal in the second half.

Senior defensive end Ben Banogu had the best game of his career, finishing with 10 tackles, one sack and four tackles for loss. He also forced a fumble on the opening series of the game.

“Going in the game we came together and said it was on us to kind of right the ship and get these last two wins and get to a bowl so we can finish this season right,” Banogu said. “The season hasn’t been ideal, but it’s good that we were able to come together and play our hearts out and get one game closer to being bowl eligible.”

This story was originally published November 17, 2018 at 5:01 PM.