First-half reaction from TCU 33, Texas Tech 28

1. It’s not hard to spot where TCU gave up its grip on the game: the first 1:38 of the second quarter. The Frogs had a 16-14 lead and faced second-and-1 at the Tech 18. But Shaun Nixon was stopped for a loss of yard, and on third down, a high snap forced Trevone Boykin to throw the ball away. On fourth down, Jaden Oberkrom’s 46-yard field goal try was blocked, and three plays later, after a roughing-the-passer call against Josh Carraway, Patrick Mahomes found Jakeem Grant for a 44-yard touchdown and a 21-16 lead. It was a disastrous 98 seconds.

2. It was big that the Frogs put themselves in position to get points at the end of the first quarter. Josh Doctson and Jarrison Stewart made big catches to get the ball to the 7-yard line. TCU gets the ball to start the second half, so the potential is there for back-to-back scoring drives without having to give up the ball. Doctson finished the half with 11 catches for 184 yards and three touchdowns.

3. The Frogs continue to have to dig deep because of injuries. Receiver Kolby Listenbee didn’t play in the first half and may sit out the game after getting shaken up on a touchdown catch against SMU last week. Receiver Ty Slanina became an injury casualty in the first quarter. Later in the second quarter, Emmanuel Porter went off the field favoring his left leg. Defensive end Josh Carraway left the field in the second quarter, perhaps with cramps.

4. KaVontae Turpin continues to get opportunities. The true freshman threw a receiver pass on the first play of the game. Three plays later, he caught a pass for a first down. He carried in the first two games of the season. If there are more ways to get him the ball, the offensive coaches will try and find them.

5. The Horned Frogs did not stand up well to a couple of straight-ahead runs by Tech’s Deandre Washington in the first quarter. Washington went through linebacker Ty Summers and got into the secondary, where he also has getaway speed. Summers did not return to the field for the next drive, giving way to Montrel Johnson. But the rotation looks could continue. That’s a spot that may not be settled for a while.

6. It has been a while since TCU got a takeaway. There were two chances in the first half. A pass deflection went into an area near Michael Downing in the first quarter, and Montrel Johnson had a chance to corral another tipped ball in the second quarter. Neither team had committed a turnover through the first 20 minutes. Although a blocked field goal against TCU and a bad snap by Texas Tech has the same effect.

This story was originally published September 26, 2015 at 5:36 PM with the headline "First-half reaction from TCU 33, Texas Tech 28."