Two defensive-minded teams produced an offensive showdown Saturday, but it was TCU’s defense that came up with a huge takeaway with just over a minute remaining to preserve a 30-28 upset over visiting No. 12 Baylor.
Saturday’s game marked the first time since 2000 that the Horned Frogs played without defensive guru Gary Patterson on the sideline after he and the school mutually agreed to part ways.
With the Bears driving for a possible game-winning field-goal attempt or touchdown, TCU’s Shadrach Banks intercepted Gerry Bohanon’s pass to seal a victory and end the Horned Frogs’ three-game losing streak.
Baylor (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) got the ball back with 2:01 to go and the chance to win after TCU’s Griffin Kell clanged a 34-yard field goal attempt off the left upright. The Bears, whose coach Dave Aranda is regarded as a defensive mastermind, moved quickly into Horned Frogs’ territory when Bohanon zipped a pass to tight end Ben Sims for 32 yards.
Banks jumped a route three plays later to swipe the pass at the 28-yard-line.
That held up the upset for TCU (4-5, 2-4), which got a huge performance from redshirt freshman quarterback Chandler Morris. Stepping in for Max Duggan, the son of former Arkansas coach Chad Morris was spectacular with 461 passing yards and two touchdown passes, along with 70 yards and a score on the ground.
The Bears were more balanced: Bohanon passed for 214 yards and three touchdowns, while Abram Smith ran for 125 yards.
But two turnovers stung Baylor, especially the late giveaway when the win seemed within grasp.
The teams went back and forth the entire game, with neither scoring more than seven points in a quarter.
Kell helped the Horned Frogs take a 16-14 lead at halftime with three second-quarter field goals (30, 46 and 24 yards) and had made 11 in a row until Baylor blocked an attempt in the third quarter.
Morris zipped a 5-yard touchdown pass to Dominic DiNunzio for a 23-14 lead and TCU never gave that lead back.
–Field Level Media
