TCU Returns To Big 12 Prominence
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It would be understandable if fans of the Horned Frogs had concerns about the ability of this team to bounce back from a heartbreaking defeat in Waco one week ago.
October 18 was Homecoming Day at Amon Carter Stadium against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The team that darn near knocked off #1 Florida six weeks ago with Daxx Garman at quarterback.
The bigger question was how the TCU defense would respond if a lead was sustained late.
All fears laid to rest after a convincing 42-9 dominance on the Cowboys on the arm of Trevone Boykin completing 26 of 39 passes for 410 yards.
Two of those strikes went to Josh Doctson from 77 and 84 yards.
BJ Catalon was the running catalyst with ten carries for 102 yards and two scores. His long run of the day for 35 yards and one of said touchdowns.
Gary Patterson was perhaps the most relieved man in the building postgame as
he addressed the assembled media.
“I’m proud of the way they bounced back. I told them last week I was the one that lost the game,” coach Gary Patterson said. “I put too much defense in. … Told them I wouldn’t do that to ’em again.”
More from Coach Patterson.
Mike Gundy’s crew came in at 5-1 yet were held without a touchdown for the first time since a 2009 loss to Oklahoma.
“We just got our butts kicked. There’s really not anything else I can say,” Gundy said. “We gave up two big plays in the first quarter. Offensively, we couldn’t make plays. … We never could get out of a jam after we got behind.”
The margin of defeat for Oklahoma State was its largest since losing in Lubbock to the Red Raiders 56-20 back in 2008.
Besides the prowess of Boykin and Catalon Josh Doctson almost had a record setting day with receptions. Seven catches for 225 yards-1 shy of tying the school record-Josh was the penultimate deep threat guy all afternoon in FT. Worth.
More from #9.
TCU was so dominant that the total yards alone tallied 676 on 82 plays. 414 more than the Cowboys on 18 lesser plays.
BJ Catalon was the first to see the end zone on a 35 yard scamper to give TCU (5-1, 2-1) a lead they would not lose this time around. The scoring drive was made possible courtesy of an interception made by cornerback Kevin White.
We now catch up with Kevin as he breaks down the game and what happened.
Holding Oklahoma State to just three field goals in the first half TCU combined running with long drives alongside from staunch defense in the second half as TCU cruised to victory.
So what changed for the Horned Frogs in the last week?
“We knew that taste in the back of our mouth and in the locker room after the Baylor game,” Boykin said. “We basically made a promise to ourselves that we really don’t want that anymore. We just came out today and played for four quarters.”
Josh Doctson and BJ Catalon were responsible for all four first half touchdowns. For Catalon that amounted to five scores in six quarters including the Baylor game. I asked BJ if the kickoff return in Waco brought back any thoughts on the 100 yard return he had on LSU in August of 2013.
BJ responds to that and other topics here.
Daxx Garman went 10 for 25 passing for 132 yards and did well between the twenties. Ben Grogan’s foot kept the Cowboys from being shut out on this day.
Three straight weeks of playing a team ranked #15 or higher.
Only after the game did we learn that coach Patterson informed his players about the losses by Baylor and Oklahoma at home to Kansas State.
The Big 12 has gotten incredibly tighter as TCU jumped to #10 while Baylor fell to #12. The team that bounced the Bears-West Virginia now commands #11 while Oklahoma got nudged all the way back to #17.
Next week Texas Tech rolls into town. Need I remind anyone of the overtime drama we enjoyed in 2012 when they visited?
I didn’t think so.
I also think, based on his fine performance in the air and on the ground rushing and blocking, the last word will go to TCU’s very own Trevone Boykin. I can also think of 410 reasons why the quarterback finishes this segment.
