FORT WORTH — Ninety-four seconds was all it took Baylor to put a Horned Frog win — and Big 12 Championship berth —in jeopardy.
Despite the nine-point jumpstart powered by sack-safety in the end zone and a 54-yard pass seconds later, TCU retained its second place position in the conference with a 45-22 win Friday at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
“Finding a way to win has been our goal,” Head Coach Gary Patterson said about the championship game-clinching victory. “One of the things that helped is that our offense held the ball 12-15 minutes of the second half. It’s hard for teams to score if they don’t have the ball.”
It took everything Patterson and the Horned Frogs’ had — six total sacks and a school record 5.5 from senior Mat Boesen and five offensive touchdowns from five different players — to earn a 13-point lead and shut down Baylor by the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Running back Sewo Olonilua finished with 10 rushes for 71 yards — including a 32-yard touchdown run. He also added 40 yards receiving. Charlton Gladden/TexasHSFootball
Included in the annuls of the victory that earned TCU its 10th of the season were the two interceptions and Marquel Simmons and Ty Summers and a fumble recovery by Nick Orr. They did it without linebacker Travin Howard and safety Niko Small, two of the Horned Frogs’ most dependable defenders.
“Winning 10 games in any conference is a big deal. It’s shown all the work we’ve put in during the offseason and camp. It’s all coming to fruition,” Summers said. “Still, it’s not the best defensive game we’ve played. We still let up 22 points. The best games for us are the ones we can keep people to zero. We made plays when we needed to but there were things we can — and are — going to fix when we watch film this weekend.”
It took Kyle Hicks and Sewo Olonilua (and dashes of Kenedy Snell and KaVonte Turpin) wearing down the Bear defensive line — first for 55 yards in the first half, then 57 in the second.
It was the first game back for Hill since sitting out last Saturday’s matchup against Texas Tech, a win that helped the Horned Frogs earn a revenge bid against Oklahoma. Hill completed 26 of his 36 passes to 11 different receivers for 325 yards and three touchdowns.
One of those receivers was Desmon White, whose 14-yard score helped create a cushion between the Horned Frogs and the upset-hungry Bears.
What a catch and run! White weaved his way through traffic and found the end zone! #BeatBU pic.twitter.com/zXEYBn7gqb
— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) November 24, 2017
Another came from Waxahachie freshman Jalen Reagor via a 30-yard catch and sprint to pay dirt. He finished with four receptions on five targets, 39 yards, and a touchdown — third behind White (4 rec, 69 yards, TD) and junior Jarrison Stewart (6 rec, 72 yards, TD).
Waxahachie freshman Jalen Reagor finished with four catches and 39 yards during the win against Baylor. Charlton Gladden/TexasHSFootball
Despite the seemingly unrelenting offensive firepower aimed at Baylor’s crumbling defense in the second half, to Hill and Summers, Boesen’s performance was a game-changer that affected the outcome of their final game at Amon G. Carter Stadium and possible could affect Heisman Trophy candidate Baker Mayfield during the looming rematch with the Sooners.
“That dude,” Hill said, chuckling lightheartedly. “Everybody was talking about our defense wasn’t going to be that good because we lost a bunch of people, but I knew in spring ball and fall camp they were going to be solid. I see it in practice every day. They come off that edge quickly. They come with it.”
“It was crazy. It was awesome,” Summers added. “I felt I’d made the play. That’s how excited I was for [Boesen]. When a player can come out there and make those types of plays, it brings momentum. When you have a playmaker out there like Mat Boesen, you have pressure. Pressure alone forces turnovers. He doesn’t need to have as many sacks as he did [against Baylor], but good things are going to happen.”
In all, TCU tallied eight sacks, three quarterback hurries, and 57 tackles. Ten of those tackles were for loss. Baylor gained 393 total yards behind quarterbacks Charlie Brewer and Zach Smith and was held to 79 rushing yards in four quarters.
Charlton Gladden/TexasHSFootball
With a week of football left and time enough for potential collegiate-level tectonic shifts, Patterson said he and his Frogs must stay true to their season motto, “eyes up, keep climbing.”
“We have to keep climbing the mountain. Can’t worry about anybody else, just keep doing what we’re doing,” Patterson said. “There’s a lot of football to be played in this next week. If you remember, I went from No. 3 to No. 6 and from No. 5 to No. 3, so I promise you there can be some movement. Maybe we’ll go from No. 8 to No. 3.”
Former No. 2 Miami’s crushing 24-14 loss to unranked Pittsburg could certainly help the Horned Frogs’ chances of securing either a New Year’s six bowl like the Cotton Bowl or a chance to vie for a national title in one of the four College Football Playoff positions.
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