TCU Survives Kansas State
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Second-ranked TCU’s 52-45 victory over Kansas State was anything but a laugher, but Horned Frogs coach Gary Patterson had a hard time convincing his players that would be the case.
“In the first half, (Kansas State) kicked our butts,” Patterson said. “I told our group what it was like to play in Manhattan, Kansas, but they didn’t believe me. Now they believe me.
“We were fortunate. I told them at halftime, ‘I watched you laughing in the training room. I watched you laughing at practice. You were not listening to me.’ Hopefully they’ll treat Iowa State a little bit better.”
The Horned Frogs (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) stormed back in the second half, outscoring the Wildcats 35-10 after halftime in front of 53,671 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, the third largest crowd in school history. But the game was not decided until linebacker Montrel Wilson sacked Joe Hubener with 53 seconds remaining.
Kansas State (3-2, 0-2) held a 39:45-20:15 edge in time of possession, but they couldn’t keep the quick-strike TCU offense off the board.
“You had two good teams battling out there,” Patterson said. “I told Coach (Bill) Snyder, ‘It’s too bad anyone had to lose that one.'”
TCU got a big play to start the second half from safety Derrick Kindred, who picked
off Hubener’s pass and raced 60 yards for a touchdown, cutting its deficit to 35-24.
Kansas State was left to ponder a second straight last-minute defeat against a ranked opponent. Last week the Wildcats led Oklahoma State 34-33 with 3:01 left before losing 36-34 on a field goal with 32 seconds left. That loss snapped a streak of 49 straight victories when leading at halftime.
“I was proud of our youngsters because they didn’t give in,” Snyder said. “We didn’t play well enough to win, but I think the way they came back from last week’s ballgame, as well as the passion, spirit, and determination that I hadn’t seen this year that I thought they played with.”
After Kindred’s interception and a Kansas State punt to the TCU 12-yard line, the Horned Frogs cut the lead to 35-31 on nine-play, 88-yard drive, capped by an 8-yard scamper by running back Aaron Green.
But when TCU appeared to have all the momentum, Kansas State rattled off a 10-play, 45-yard drive that took 5:45 and regained a double-digit lead at 42-31. Hubener scored his fourth rushing touchdown from 1 yard out. It was the 10th straight touchdown on a red-zone possession for Kansas State.
TCU answered with an 11-play, 70-yard drive that was capped by a nifty 14-yard run by Boykin. The two-point conversion failed.
Kansas State went three-and-out on its next possession and TCU took over on its own 30. After a 1-yard gain, Boykin raced 69 yards through a hole on the right side to give the Horned Frogs a 43-42 edge. The two-point conversion was a Boykin pass to Josh Doctson.
Kansas State took over at its own 25 with 6:07 remaining. The Wildcats marched 55 yards to the TCU 20, where they faced a fourth-and-1 with 1:52 remaining. Head coach Bill Snyder chose to attempt a field goal, which Jack Cantele hit from 37 yards to tie the score.
TCU took over on its own 36-yard line. Although Kansas State held a huge edge in time of possession, the 1:40 left on the clock was more than enough for the Horned Frogs. After a 9-yard run by Boykin, he connected with Doctson for a 55-yard touchdown for the game-winner.
“That’s a play we ran all week at practice,” Boykin said. “We ran it at the perfect time. I (saw) the safety drive on a dig and the corner was playing the vertical a little. I just tried to get Josh the ball, and whatever happened happened.”
Snyder was understated, as usual.
“I don’t know if it’s a dagger, but I know it hurt us,” he said. “It’s the play that changed the game, as many did – it’s not the only one.”
The first half was controlled by Kansas State, on the clock and on the scoreboard. The Wildcats held a 22:47 to 7:13 edge in time of possession in the first half, and led 35-17. But that was before Patterson reminded his team that it would be a battle.
