TCU Beats West Virginia
FORT WORTH, Texas — If West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen had a Heisman Trophy vote, it would be going to TCU quarterback Trevon Boykin.
“With all due respect to (Baylor receiver) Corey Coleman two weeks ago, Boykin is the best player in college football,” Holgorsen said Thursday night after watching the Horned Frogs’ senior shred the Mountaineers. “He’s a phenomenal football player and I’m glad we never have to see him again.”
Boykin bolstered his Heisman credentials with four touchdowns — three passing and another rushing — and 472 yards of total offense, as No. 5 TCU got up big early and improved to 8-0 by whipping West Virginia 40-10 at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
TCU’s quest for a spot in the College Football Playoffs is down to four games, including the regular-season finale at home against No. 2 Baylor. A pair of sturdy tests remain on the road at No. 12 Oklahoma State (Nov. 7) and No. 14 Oklahoma (Nov. 14).
Unlike the last three nail-biters between the two newest members of the Big 12, TCU raced out to a 17-0 lead against West Virginia and never looked back. The Horned Frogs (5-0 Big 12) have scored at least 40 points in each of their last seven games.
Boykin completed 32 of 47 passes for 388 yards, with two scores going
to receiver Josh Doctson. Boykin now has 10,080 career yards passing, second all-time at TCU behind the 10,314 by current Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton.
“He’s just playing like a Heisman quarterback,” Doctson said of Boykin.
Boykin’s favorite target caught 11 passes for 183 yards, and leads all active players with 34 career touchdowns. Doctson’s 71 catches this season are a TCU single-season record.
“I keep telling you just appreciate Trevone Boykin and Josh Doctson,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said. “They’re pretty special people.”
The Mountaineers dropped to 3-4 overall and 0-4 in the Big 12 after their fourth consecutive loss.
West Virginia quarterback Skyler Howard repeatedly tried to test the TCU secondary deep, but his receivers weren’t much help. Several dropped passes doomed scoring chances.
“It was pretty apparent the first half and some of the second half,” Holgorsen said. “You have to make those plays and we’ve got to call better plays and coach our schemes. Some of it has to fall on the players as far as making those plays as well.”
Howard completed 16 of 39 passes for 160 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Running back Wendell Smallwood posted his fourth 100-yard rushing effort of the season with 113 yards on 20 carries.
Boykin also led the Frogs with 84 yards rushing.
Boykin accounted for two touchdowns and 244 yards in the first half, as the Horned Frogs took a 23-10 lead at the break.
The Frogs went methodically down the field on their first possession, covering 91 yards in 12 plays. Two pass-interference calls aided a drive that ended with Boykin lofting a soft 17-yard scoring pass to Doctson.
TCU mounted another long march on its second possession, going 81 yards after the Mountaineers’ second punt. Boykin took it the final 2 yards, running left and diving into the end zone.
The Frogs finished the first quarter with a 17-0 lead on kicker Jaden Oberkrom’s 20-yard field goal.
The Mountaineers found their footing on both sides of the ball in the second quarter to get back into the game.
The visitors got on the board on Howard’s 32-yard touchdown pass to diving receiver Shelton Gibson early in the second period.
West Virginia pulled within 17-10 on kicker Josh Lambert’s 51-yard field goal with 5:02 left in the second period.
Oberkrom helped TCU regain some momentum going into the locker room with two more field goals, including a career-long 57-yarder as the half expired.
