Josh Hoover completed 28 of 42 passes for 353 yards and two touchdowns to lead visiting TCU to a 34-27 victory against Stanford in the season opener for both teams on Friday.
Horned Frogs receiver Jack Bech caught six passes for 139 yards and the go-ahead touchdown with 3:13 left. JP Richardson finished with six catches for 107 yards, and Savion Williams had 11 receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown.
Ashton Daniels took most of the snaps at quarterback for Stanford, and he completed 17 of 35 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown with one interception. Daniels also rushed for a team-high 87 yards on 17 carries.
Justin Lamson completed his only pass for a touchdown and also scored on a 1-yard run with 6:57 left in the fourth quarter to give Stanford a 24-20 lead.
Bech subsequently caught a 4-yard scoring pass from Hoover to move the Horned Frogs back in front 27-24.
After the Cardinal were stopped on downs deep in their own territory, Cam Cook scored on a 7-yard touchdown run with 1:51 remaining to make it 34-24.
Cook finished with 81 yards on 20 carries.
Emmet Kenney kicked a 45-yard field goal with 36 seconds left to cut the Cardinal’s deficit to 34-27, but the Horned Frogs recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the win.
Stanford scored on its opening drive with help from three personal fouls on TCU, which committed seven penalties for 100 yards.
Daniels capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Harris for a 7-0 lead with 7:57 left in the first quarter.
TCU scored on its opening drive as well, marching 75 yards on 13 plays and tying the score 7-7 on a 5-yard touchdown strike from Hoover to Williams with 1:16 left in the first quarter.
Mitch Leigber forced a fumble for the Cardinal and teammate Jay Green recovered at the Stanford 30 before returning it 10 yards, giving the Cardinal prime field position early in the second quarter.
Lamson took over at quarterback for Stanford with the short field and hit Ismael Cisse with a 2-yard touchdown pass to move the Cardinal in front 14-7 with 9:19 left in the opening half.
TCU’s Kyle Lemmermann booted a 22-yard field goal to cut the margin to 14-10 with 4:09 left in the half.
Kenney answered with a 35-yard field goal, stretching the lead to 17-10 with 1:36 left in the second quarter.
Lemmermann booted a 42-yarder with 9:11 left in the third quarter.
Hoover scored on a 1-yard sneak with 2:22 left in the third quarter to give TCU its first lead at 20-17.
–Field Level Media
