TCU notes: Doctson hurt, leaves field, returns, sets more records

Josh Doctson added quick recovery powers to his school-record season.

The TCU receiver returned from a first-quarter injury in time to help keep a drive alive that gave the Horned Frogs the lead at halftime Saturday at Iowa State.

He finished the game with 10 catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-21 Big 12 victory.

The senior was hurt on a catch in the first quarter. He lay on the field attended by TCU trainers, and coach Gary Patterson came out to check on him.

After a few minutes, Doctson popped up and ran off the field without help. He stayed on the sideline and attempted to ride the stationary bike. After a few tries, he got his helmet and walked to the locker room with a trainer.

As the second quarter began, Doctson returned to the field. He sat out a possession, then got in for one play on the next possession.

On TCU’s final possession of the half, he caught a 16-yard pass over the middle to convert a third-and-7 from the TCU 36. Four plays later, he added an 11-yard catch. He also drew a pass interference penalty in the end zone.

The Horned Frogs couldn’t convert the chance into a touchdown, but the plays helped them run the clock down, and Jaden Oberkrom’s 23-yard field goal produced a 24-21 lead.

At halftime, Doctson had seven catches for 129 yards and a touchdown. His 20-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter gave him 11 for the season, tying the school record he set last season. He broke the mark in the fourth quarter on a 42-yard catch-and-run.

Doctson bettered his own school record (1,018) for receiving yards in a season with 1,067. He came in needing 142 yards to break it.

Johnson ejection

Junior safety Denzel Johnson was ejected in the second quarter for targeting. He can return for TCU’s next game, since he sat out at least a half.

Johnson was called for putting a helmet to Iowa State receiver Allen Lazard after an incomplete pass. The ball fell near Lazard, and Johnson appeared to accelerate to the receiver in taking a path to the ball.

Without Johnson, the Horned Frogs moved Travin Howard from linebacker into the secondary and used Ty Summers at linebacker.

Turpin hurt

Freshman receiver KaVontae Turpin left the game in the first quarter, hurt two plays after Doctson’s injury.

Turpin lay on the field for a short time. When he got up, he walked immediately to the locker room with trainers. He did not return to the game, and the ESPN2 broadcast referred to an “upper body injury.”

Turpin had a 60-yard kickoff return to set up TCU’s opening possession for a touchdown. But he fumbled on the play where he was hurt, and Iowa State turned it into a touchdown.

Desmon White took over punt return duties.

Stat watch

▪ Oberkrom set a school record for field goals with his 23-yarder before halftime, his 66th. It broke the record he shared with Nick Browne, who kicked from 2001 to 2003.

▪ TCU extended its scoring streak to 287 games, second-best active mark in the country and fourth all time.

▪ TCU also extended its streak of first-quarter touchdowns to 20, the longest active streak in the country.

This story was originally published October 17, 2015 at 9:14 PM with the headline "TCU notes: Doctson hurt, leaves field, returns, sets more records."