Baylor 22
Texas Christian 45
Friday, November 24, 2017 12:00 PM
(ET)
No. 12 TCU clinches berth in Big 12 title game
The Sports Xchange
Nov 24, 2017
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Kenny Hill accounted for four touchdowns and No. 12 TCU locked up a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game by outlasting Baylor 45-22 Friday at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
The Horned Frogs (10-2, 7-2) set up a rematch with No. 4 Oklahoma on Dec. 2 at AT&T Stadium in nearby Arlington. The Sooners beat TCU 38-20 on Nov. 11.
The Frogs are likely out of the running for a spot in the College Football Playoffs, even if they beat Oklahoma, but a win next week would give TCU its first outright Big 12 title since joining the conference in 2012.
Hill, the senior quarterback back after missing one game with concussion-like systems, completed 26 of 36 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns. He added another score rushing.
The Frogs found themselves down 9-0 in the first two minutes of the game to a longtime rival in the midst of a miserable season. TCU would run off 21 unanswered points and never relinquished the lead the rest of the way.
There were some anxious moments as the Bears (1-11, 1-8) hung around, as they've done often during coach Matt Rhule's first year, before fading down the stretch.
True freshman quarterback Charlie Brewer did his best to keep Baylor close by throwing for 301 yards and two touchdowns, and running for another 49 yards. Brewer took a hard hit late in the third quarter and was replaced by Zach Smith.
TCU rolled up 437 yards and outscored the Bears 24-3 in the second half. The Frogs' defense forced three turnovers and set a season high with eight sacks, including a school-record 5.5 sacks by Mat Boesen.
Baylor took a quick 2-0 lead with a safety in the game's first minute after forcing a fumble from Hill in the end zone. TCU avoided a defensive touchdown after the ball was recovered by an offensive lineman.
The Bears got that touchdown two plays later when Brewer and Blake Lynch connected on a 54-yard catch-and-run.
TCU had a 14-9 lead before the first quarter was up. A lost fumble by Brewer deep Baylor territory turned into a short touchdown run by Hicks. Hill then connected with Jarrison Stewart on a 7-yard scoring pass in the final minute.
The Bears fell behind 21-9, but closed out the first half with 10 straight points. Trestan Ebner took a check-down pass from Brewer 58 yards for a touchdown and Conner Martin nailed a 48-yard field as the half ended.
The Bears struggled under Rhule, who was hired to rebuild a program left in shambles by former coach Art Briles. This was Baylor's first losing record since going 4-8 in 2009 under Briles.
NOTES: The Horned Frogs have won at least 10 games in 11 of 17 seasons under Gary Patterson. The program had just four 10-win seasons before Patterson's arrival. ... TCU leads the all-time series leads 54-52-7 in the most-played rivalry for both schools. Patterson is 7-3 against Baylor. ... K Conner Martin's 23-yard field goal in the third quarter accounted for the first second-half point against TCU in six games. ... Baylor's 1-8 conference record was its worst since 1-7 in 2009 under Briles.
Nov 24, 2017
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Kenny Hill accounted for four touchdowns and No. 12 TCU locked up a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game by outlasting Baylor 45-22 Friday at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
The Horned Frogs (10-2, 7-2) set up a rematch with No. 4 Oklahoma on Dec. 2 at AT&T Stadium in nearby Arlington. The Sooners beat TCU 38-20 on Nov. 11.
The Frogs are likely out of the running for a spot in the College Football Playoffs, even if they beat Oklahoma, but a win next week would give TCU its first outright Big 12 title since joining the conference in 2012.
Hill, the senior quarterback back after missing one game with concussion-like systems, completed 26 of 36 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns. He added another score rushing.
The Frogs found themselves down 9-0 in the first two minutes of the game to a longtime rival in the midst of a miserable season. TCU would run off 21 unanswered points and never relinquished the lead the rest of the way.
There were some anxious moments as the Bears (1-11, 1-8) hung around, as they've done often during coach Matt Rhule's first year, before fading down the stretch.
True freshman quarterback Charlie Brewer did his best to keep Baylor close by throwing for 301 yards and two touchdowns, and running for another 49 yards. Brewer took a hard hit late in the third quarter and was replaced by Zach Smith.
TCU rolled up 437 yards and outscored the Bears 24-3 in the second half. The Frogs' defense forced three turnovers and set a season high with eight sacks, including a school-record 5.5 sacks by Mat Boesen.
Baylor took a quick 2-0 lead with a safety in the game's first minute after forcing a fumble from Hill in the end zone. TCU avoided a defensive touchdown after the ball was recovered by an offensive lineman.
The Bears got that touchdown two plays later when Brewer and Blake Lynch connected on a 54-yard catch-and-run.
TCU had a 14-9 lead before the first quarter was up. A lost fumble by Brewer deep Baylor territory turned into a short touchdown run by Hicks. Hill then connected with Jarrison Stewart on a 7-yard scoring pass in the final minute.
The Bears fell behind 21-9, but closed out the first half with 10 straight points. Trestan Ebner took a check-down pass from Brewer 58 yards for a touchdown and Conner Martin nailed a 48-yard field as the half ended.
The Bears struggled under Rhule, who was hired to rebuild a program left in shambles by former coach Art Briles. This was Baylor's first losing record since going 4-8 in 2009 under Briles.
NOTES: The Horned Frogs have won at least 10 games in 11 of 17 seasons under Gary Patterson. The program had just four 10-win seasons before Patterson's arrival. ... TCU leads the all-time series leads 54-52-7 in the most-played rivalry for both schools. Patterson is 7-3 against Baylor. ... K Conner Martin's 23-yard field goal in the third quarter accounted for the first second-half point against TCU in six games. ... Baylor's 1-8 conference record was its worst since 1-7 in 2009 under Briles.
