By Will Martin
After last year’s 56-53 overtime thriller in Ft. Worth it figured that whatever transpired in Lubbock would be a let down by virtue of comparison.
TCU was trying to erase a three game skid to Texas Tech and newbie coach Kliff Kingsbury while Trevone Boykin would have his battles against the frosh they call Baker Mayfield.
In the end it was neither that would be a factor. Instead you can pin this yawner of a game on the refs for the called, and the non-called.
Congratulations to the Red Raiders as they improved to 3-0 in a defensive 20-10 battle in which the outcome was not determined until there was 3:48 left in the game.
Baker Mayfield was ineffective for most of the evening going only 21 of 40 passing with one touchdown and three interceptions. Trevone Boykin did better as he attempted 23 of 36 passes for 196 yards albeit with two picks. Way too many mental mistakes that took away from this game of muck. To wit:
DeAndre Washington is your latest candidate for DeSean Jackson stupidity running a ball in for an apparent score…only to drop it at the half yard line. This boo boo not even Pee Wee league approved. Brandon Carter having a 69-yard punt return for a touchdown denied due to what looked like a motioning for a fair catch. It looked inconclusive from here.
Another great punt return by Carter would be nullified by a clipping penalty by Dominic Merka which meant another case of going three and out.
Not that it mattered as backup Freshman Davis Webb came in for an injured Mayfield and calmly went 3-for-4 in the air including a 19-yard strike to Bradley Marquez to give Tech a lead they would not relinquish at home before a packed house at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. It won’t surprise me if Webb is your starter for the immediate future as he provided a needed spark upon entering the game.
That has to be a first. A team that loses twice in two different locations called AT&T Stadium. Despite outrushing Texas Tech 207 to 43 (101 of that by Trevone Boykin) and amassing 401 total yards to only 336 for the Red Raiders, the Horned Frogs kept shooting themselves in the foot with needless and stupid penalties. 13 in all for a total of 115 yards. Texas Tech also had 10 for 89 yards.
BJ Catalon would get TCU’s lone touchdown with 6:28 left in the game on a 17-yard run. The first half was dominated by Texas Tech when 69 seconds in Kenny Williams caught a 50-yard bomb to give the Red Raiders a lead that was theirs to keep for the rest of the evening. With the 20-10 victory Tech improves to 3-0 under Kliff Kingsbury and 1-0 in the Big 12.
Pretty ugly win, eh coach?
“That’s about as ugly as you can win, but we’ll take it,” Kingsbury said. “Pretty bizarre, but I thought our kids’ effort was incredible the entire time. Played their hearts out and found a way to win an ugly game.”
Devonte Fields played in the game, didn’t do much. While TCU was successful in shutting out Eric Ward, Jace Amaro would find open slots and collect 97 yards on nine receptions, the longest being a 31-yard connection. With the defeat you can expect TCU to get knocked out of the Top 25 but will now get 16 days to recoup and prepare for the Iron Skillet match with SMU at Amon Carter on September 28th. Time of game to be determined.
With Thursday night’s loss TCU falls to 1-2 and 0-1 in Big 12 play. Gary Patterson will have his hands full tweaking and refocusing.
