TCU-West Virginia preview: QBs starred at Tarrant high schools
TCU at West Virginia
When, where: 2:30 p.m. Saturday
TV: WFAA/Ch. 8 or ESPN2
Records: TCU, 4-2, 2-1 in Big 12; West Virginia, 5-0, 2-0
TCU coach Gary Patterson is hopeful the Frogs will be bolstered by the return of two key offensive players who have missed multiple games because of injuries, receiver/kick returner KaVontae Turpin (knee) and center Austin Schlottmann (foot). Their availability will be “game-time decisions,” said Patterson, who also indicated the contest could mark the season debuts of cornerback Julius Lewis and offensive lineman Trey Elliott. They are coming off injuries once thought to be season-ending.
Regardless of how the TCU roster shakes out before kickoff, the Frogs will be facing on the league’s stingiest defenses. West Virginia ranks second among Big 12 teams in scoring defense (19.4) and is third in total defense (410.6). TCU ranks fourth in scoring (40.2) and total offense (530.7).
Quarterback comparison
Category | Kenny Hill (TCU) | Skyler Howard (WVU) |
High school | Southlake Carroll | White Settlement Brewer |
Total offense | 391.3 | 357 |
Passing yards | 357 | 318 |
TDs/INTs | 12/8 | 8/4 |
Where they are different
TCU is 1-2 in matchups decided by a touchdown or less. The Frogs edged Kansas 24-23 in their last game but dropped a double-overtime decision to No. 17 Arkansas (41-38) and fell to No. 16 Oklahoma 52-46 to drop out of the Associated Press rankings after beginning the season at No. 13. West Virginia is 2-0 in close games, with victories over Brigham Young (35-32) and Kansas State (17-16).
Notable recent developments
TCU is coming off a bye week following the 24-23 victory at Kansas. The Frogs hope the extra preparation time will help them cut back on self-inflicted wounds. TCU ranks next-to-last among Big 12 teams in fewest penalty yards (79.7 per game) and is minus-1 in turnover margin. West Virginia played its best game of the season last week, a 48-17 rout of Texas Tech in Lubbock.
Trends
TCU and West Virginia have met four times as Big 12 rivals, with three of the meetings decided on the game’s final play (two in overtime, one on a last-second field goal). TCU has won both meetings in Morgantown, prevailing in 2014 on Jaden Oberkrom’s 37-yard field goal as time expired in a 31-30 thriller, and in 2012 when the Frogs secured a 39-38 overtime triumph. West Virginia won an overtime game in Fort Worth, 30-27, in 2013. The Frogs won last year’s meeting in Fort Worth, 40-10. TCU has won 12 of its last 13 regular-season contests following an open date. West Virginia enters on a six-game winning streak and is 10-1 in its last 11 contests dating back to last season.
Key performers
TCU
LB Ty Summers | 64 tackles |
LB Travin Howard | 58 tackles |
DE Josh Carraway | 4.5 sacks |
Aaron Curry | 3.5 sacks |
RB Kyle Hicks | 479 yards, 7 TDs, 27 receptions |
West Virginia
S Jarrod Harper | 30 tackles |
S Kyzir White | 29 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 sack, 2 PBU |
WR Daikel Shorts | 27 catches, 418 yards, 2 TDs |
Shelton Gibson | 23 catches, 472 yards, 2 TDs |
QB Skyler Howard | 66.1 completion rate |
Significant statistics
TCU
Scoring | 40.2 points per game |
Passing yards | 362.5 per game |
Sacks | 22 |
Rushing yards allowed | 150.7 per game |
West Virginia
Rushing yards | 216.2 per game |
Sacks | 9 |
TDs allowed | 11 |
Jimmy Burch: 817-390-7760, @Jimmy_Burch
This story was originally published October 19, 2016 at 3:57 PM with the headline "TCU-West Virginia preview: QBs starred at Tarrant high schools."