Big plays doom TCU as it falls short against Iowa State in Big 12 opener
TCU had four potential season openers disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic this year, so it viewed being able to play a football game as a win this weekend. But that was it’s only victory.
Iowa State out-played TCU in just about every facet of a 37-34 victory on Saturday afternoon to open Big 12 play at Amon G. Carter Stadium. The final score would’ve looked more lopsided if not for a TCU touchdown at the buzzer.
“There is no silver lining. We came to play, you’ve got to play to win,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said. “When I came here 23 years ago, they played to play close. That’s not what we do. You get ready for the games you’re supposed to win and then the big games take care of themselves. For two years in a row, Iowa State has gone after us. For whatever reason, they’ve had our number. At the end of the day, we’ve got to do a lot better job against bigger, physical teams.”
The loss snapped an 18-game winning streak in home openers for Patterson. Attendance was announced at 11,852 at the 46,000-seat stadium as the school limited capacity under COVID-19 restrictions.
But Patterson and the players described it as a normal game day, just one that didn’t go their way. Iowa State led the entire way, taking advantage of big plays all day.
Of the Cyclones 423 yards of total offense, 249 yards were gained on five plays. Those proved to matter more than TCU finishing with more yards of total offense (499).
ISU was led by running back Breece Hall, who rushed for 154 yards on 18 carries with three touchdowns. He scored on runs of 75, 1 and 32 yards. The Cyclones also had a 49-yard TD run by Kene Nwangwu, connected on a 49-yard pass play during a field-goal drive in the first half and had a 44-yard pass play on the drive that ended with Hall’s 1-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter.
“I just think we have to play better as a defense,” TCU senior linebacker Garret Wallow said. “It really came down to five plays — those five plays really hurt us. It comes down to execution. We have to execute our defense better. We can’t give away big plays. We have to find ways to force turnovers and get the ball back to our offense.”
The Horned Frogs trailed the entire game, although made it interesting a couple times after quarterback Max Duggan entered the game in the second half. Iowa State even helped give TCU momentum early in the second half when Brock Purdy tried to throw the ball away and avoid being sacked by Wallow.
Instead of throwing it away, though, Purdy threw it behind the line of scrimmage and into the hands of TCU safety La’Kendrick Van Zandt, who scored easily to make it at a 16-14 game. ISU responded the next series by taking a 23-14 lead on the 49-yard TD run by Nwangwu.
TCU stayed in striking distance.
Duggan connected with Taye Barber for a 27-yard score to make it a 23-21 game late in the third quarter. But ISU responded with a TD drive, which included a 44-yard pass from Purdy to Joe Scates.
TCU again pulled to within two points, 30-28, on a 48-yard touchdown pass from Duggan to tight end Artayvious Lynn with 6 minutes, 51 seconds left in the game.
TCU’s defense made a stop, giving the offense the ball with a chance for a go-ahead score. But Duggan was intercepted by Iowa State linebacker Mike Rose, who stretched out for a ball that bounced off Barber’s hands and knee.
Iowa State sealed the game shortly after with a 32-yard TD run by Hall. TCU scored a TD as time expired on a 31-yard pass from Duggan to Blair Conwright, but it was too little too late.
Duggan finished 16 of 19 for 241 yards with three TDs and one interception in the second half. Matthew Downing, who started the game, was 11 of 21 for 159 yards and one TD in the first half. Downing was sacked four times.
Asked if he considered going to Duggan earlier in the game, Patterson said: “No. They [the offensive staff] talked and they felt like they wanted to do that. I thought he started slow and then got better as he went.”
Junior running back Emari Demercado said the offense came out more fired up in the second half, but still battled self-inflicted challenges throughout.
For instance, during one drive early in the third quarter, TCU moved the ball into Iowa State territory and had a first-and-10 from the ISU 38. But that drive ended with a punt as Duggan lost 6 yards on first down, was sacked for a 7-yard loss on second down and then settled for an 8-yard pass to Demercado on third down.
“We have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot and playing behind the chains,” Demercado said. “We’re making plays and getting 10- and 12-yards, but it’s third-and-23. We’ve just got to stop hindering ourselves.”
The Cyclones dominated the trenches on both sides. They rushed for 212 yards against a Horned Frogs defense that held six opponents to 100 yards or fewer last season. ISU’s defense had nine tackles for loss, including six sacks.
TCU, meanwhile, finished with just 99 yards rushing and had five tackles for loss, including two sacks. The O-line was also penalized five times.
“There’s only one guy to blame — I’m the guy who is supposed to get them ready,” Patterson said. “Right now, today, we didn’t do that.”
TCU is set to face Texas next Saturday in Austin.
This story was originally published September 26, 2020 at 4:07 PM.
