How TCU used big plays to beat Kansas and win its first Big 12 game of the season
The Horned Frogs snapped their two-game losing streak in style with big play after big play in a 38-27 football victory over Kansas at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday.
It was far from perfect as the Horned Frogs had to overcome three turnovers on the road, but in the end, TCU made enough plays in all three phases to secure its first Big 12 win of the season.
“I can’t say enough about our players and how proud I am of them,” TCU head coach Sonny Dykes said. “They never blinked, and with all the stuff that went down last week, I appreciate those guys having my back personally. I think this is a special team, it’s good to get a road win in the Big 12.”
TCU scored three touchdowns of at least 35 yards, and none was bigger than JP Richardson’s 89-yard punt return in the third quarter. Trailing 24-21, The Horned Frogs’ offense was struggling after their two previous series ended with an interception and a missed field goal.
Richardson got a key block by freshman Kaden McFadden at the start of the return, and then Richardson did the rest as he raced to the end zone and put TCU ahead for good.
“We knew I was going to have opportunities to return the ball this week,” Richardson said. “Shout out to Kaden McFadden, he’s the one that sparked that one. I was just out there playing ball.”
The Jayhawks cut the lead to 28-27 with 12 minutes, 7 seconds remaining in the game, but the Horned Frogs responded with a 59-yard touchdown by Eric McAlister less than a minute later to extend the lead.
The TCU defense forced a stop, and then Kyle Lemmerman added a 29-yard field goal with 3:02 remaining that put the Horned Frogs ahead by the eventual final 38-27 margin.
It was a must-win game for TCU if the Horned Frogs (3-2 overall, 1-1 in Big 12) want to contend for more than a bowl berth. With their season hanging in the balance, TCU was able to make enough plays to outlast the Jayhawks (1-4, 0-2).
Hoover overcomes errors
TCU Josh Hoover mostly played excellent football, but he had a couple of costly mistakes against Kansas. His first interception late in the second quarter led to a Jayhawks field goal. Then with TCU trailing 24-21, Hoover had another pick in the second half when TCU was driving deep into Kansas territory.
Hoover tried to fit a pass into double coverage to Savion Williams running up the seam of the defense, but it was picked off by Mello Dotson. It didn’t lead to points as TCU’s defense rose up and made a stop, but Hoover nearly had another turnover on TCU’s next drive when he took a hard hit and fumbled the ball. The ruling was eventually overturned as Hoover’s arm was moving forward, but it was still costly.
Facing a third-and-10, TCU went conservative and called a designed quarterback draw that gained just a yard. Kyle Lemmerman then missed the 41-yard field-goal attempt as TCU’s conservative approach didn’t pay off. After Richardson’s punt-return touchdown, Hoover took the field with a 28-27 lead and immediately made up for the costly mistakes.
On the touchdown pass to McAlister, Hoover eluded the rush just long enough to hit McAlister on the right sideline. McAlister stiff armed a Jayhawk defender and then strolled into the end zone for a 59-yard touchdown that made it 35-27 with over 11 minutes remaining. Hoover finished the day 28 of 37 for 356 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
“We had some adversity today that we fought through and found ways to win,” Hoover said. “There were some huge plays, and I’m so proud of our guys. We just have to continue to clean some things up.”
His favorite target was Jack Bech and Bech had another big day with 10 receptions for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Despite some of the mistakes, Bech still believes Hoover is playing at an elite level.
“Hoov is playing out of his mind. In my opinion he’s the best quarterback in the country,” Bech said. “I wouldn’t want to be catching the rock from anybody else.”
Defense does enough
After two lackluster showings against UCF and SMU, TCU’s defense got off to another slow start against the Jayhawks. Kansas averaged almost 9 yards per play on its first two touchdown drives in the first quarter, but the TCU defense allowed just one touchdown the rest of the way and kept the Horned Frogs in the game, despite the costly turnovers by Hoover near the red zone.
“I thought the defense played incredible football after the first two possessions,” Dykes said. Dykes went on to mention the defense’s key stop late in the first half when a Hoover interception was returned inside the TCU 10. The Jayhawks could’ve taken a 21-14 lead but were held to a field goal.
There was another instance in the second half where the defense had to rush onto the field after a Hoover interception and a missed field goal on back-to-back possessions. The defense allowed less than 25 yards and got the stop to set up Richardson’s game-changing punt return. The Jayhawks entered the contest averaging 238 yards on the ground but were limited to 167 by the TCU defense. Not stellar, but still better than the showings against UCF and SMU.
“Man, thank goodness. It’s been tough the last couple of weeks against the run,” Johnny Hodges said. “Our backs were against the wall; we’ve been getting banged around and knocked around. We lost a heart-breaker and got our tails kicked in pretty good last week. Our backs were against the wall, and when our backs are against the wall we’re just going to start swinging. We’re not going to give up, and I think that’s a testament to our coaches.”
Hectic half
The first half featured plenty of twists and turns as TCU’s high-powered passing offense went head to head with Kansas’ versatile running game. The Jayhawks struck first after Cam Cook fumbled on the Horned Frogs’ first series when the offense had moved into Kansas territory. Kansas got another boost when JaTravis Broughton was flagged for a defensive pass interference. A few plays later, Daniels connected with Luke Grimm for a Kansas touchdown.
The Horned Frogs answered quickly as Hoover completed three passes for 81 yards including a 35-yard touchdown to Jack Bech.
The game, though, wouldn’t be tied for long as Kansas marched 71 yards with its rushing attack and took a 14-7 lead. A Cook touchdown tied it at 14-14 at the start of the second quarter. It was after that point that the two defenses started to finally settle in.
TCU’s defense forced back-to-back punts after allowing opponents to go 14 straight drives without one. However, Hoover made a costly mistake as he left a pass floating in the air too long and it was picked off by O.J. Burroughs who returned the inside the TCU 10. The Horned Frogs’ defense came up with clutch stops and made Kansas settle for a field goal.
Hoover made up for the interception. He connected with Bech for a 7-yard touchdown with just 12 seconds remaining in the half that gave TCU its first lead of the day at 21-17.
This story was originally published September 28, 2024 at 5:58 PM.
