Photo Courtesy: Dominic Ceraldi
Game Info:
SFA Lumberjacks vs. #3 TCU Horned Frogs
Saturday – September 12th – 2:30 pm (CT)
TV: Fox Sports 1
Amon G. Carter Stadium – Fort Worth
Losing two starting linebackers possibly for the remainder of the season may at some point come back to bite the TCU Horned Frogs defense in the butt. I highly doubt that this Saturday’s contest against Stephen F. Austin will produce a welt on their hind quarters.
Coach Gary Patterson announced on Thursday that his #3 ranked Frogs will be without the services of impressive freshman linebacker Mike Freeze and junior Sammy Douglas. He won’t on to say that the absences could extend for the remainder of the season. Freeze, Patterson said, is on a personal leave and the status of his return is unknown. “Maybe forever” he uttered. The outlook on Douglas has a little more clarity. A severe knee injury suffered early in last week’s victory over Minnesota. He will without a doubt miss the rest of this season .
WHEN SFA HAS THE BALL
The Lumberjacks look to bounce back from their season opening loss to Northern Arizona,34-28, on last Saturday. QB Zachary Conquest turned in a solid performance, passing for 297 yards with a touchdown. He will undoubtedly see a more formidable foe across the line of scrimmage from him on Saturday. Even with the depletion of the linebacker corp, the Frogs defense should be able to get constant pressure from their front four, allowing the replacement linebackers freedom to just go make plays on the ball.
WHEN TCU HAS THE BALL
QB Trevone Boykin may have exactly what the doctor ordered as a remedy to his ‘no so stellar’ start to his Heisman campaign. That potion is the Lumberjack defense. A group surrendering 34 points and 303 passing yards to Northern Arizona has to have him and his receivers licking their chops. The inaccurate throws he had on last week will have the opportunity to be corrected Saturday. The offensive line should give him all day in the pocket, giving him plenty of time to set his feet and make better throws down field.
Patterson was very critical of the performances last week of running back Aaron Green and receiver Kolby Listenbee. A strong bounce back performance from those two can be expected. “Style Points” are what the Frogs should take into consideration after dropping a spot and getting leapfrogged by Alabama into the #2 ranking.
PREDICTION: TCU 56-SFA 14
