30 minutes through today's game TCU is looking incredibly efficient on offense. While it may not particularly standout in the score, Josh Hoover went 13/14 for 215 yards and 1 touchdown as TCU leads 14-10 at the break.
After winning the coin toss, TCU elected to differ and kick the ball off to the Baylor Bears to start today's game.
On the opening drive, Blake Sharpen led the Bears to a fresh set of downs before being halted by the TCU defense. A rush toward the sideline on 3rd and 8 was well-tracked by linebacker Shadrach Banks Jr. who made the crucial tackle, forcing Baylor to punt.
Following a good series from the defense, TCU showed its offensive efficiency early on.
Hoover opened the series going 3/3 for 53 yards. His first three passes were each caught for first downs as the Frogs marched down the field in the first quarter. But once the Frogs found themselves in the red zone, all turned sour.
Hoover found JP Richardson for 6 yards, putting the Frogs at the 2 yard line. But Emani Bailey fumbled the ensuing handoff which was recovered and returned by Baylor to the 31 yard line.
From the 31 yard line, a deep pass intended for a wide-open Monaray Baldwin was dropped. Baldwin beat Josh Newton and would have scored if the catch was made, but TCU was given a massive break.After getting stuffed at the line, a handoff on 4th and 1 to Josh Cameron extended the drive. A few plays later, Sharpen found tight end Cody Mladenka to set the Bears up on a 1st and goal before Dominic Richardson caught a pass in the flat and found the end zone for a 10-yard score.
Flagged for a block in the back, the Horned Frogs began the next possession at their own 10 yard line. Once again the Frogs showed their efficiency on offense. At midfield, Hoover found Richardson for 11 yards and then picked out Jaylon Robinson for 16 yards on a crucial 3rd and long.
TCU got down to the 5 yard line, but a rush for no gain set up a 4th and inches. But Baylor's defense was prepared and stopped the Frogs once again in the red zone, forcing a turnover on downs.
Baylor had trouble getting some space after starting from inside their 10 yard line. A pass on 3rd down was broken up by Josh Newton, but the senior cornerback for TCU should have come up with the interception.
On the punt, Richardson got a nice return to the Baylor 35. Following a first down pass to Robinson, Bailey found a lane to punch home a 27-yard touchdown. With the ensuing PAT from Griffin Kell, TCU knotted the game at 7-7.
Baylor answered back with a good drive of their own. Sharpen picked out Baldwin for 26 yards, to set the Bears up just outside the red zone. But on 4th and 3 at the 8-yard line, the Horned Frog defense came up with a big stop to hold the Bears from going ahead.
Following the stop, it only took TCU two plays to find the end zone. After a 6 yard gain by Bailey, Hoover found a wide-open Jared Wiley for an 81-yard touchdown to jump in front 14-7. What doesn't show in the box score is the tremendous block by Savion Williams to keep a Baylor Bear defender from chasing Wiley down. While Williams is having a quite first half, he is doing the dirty work for the Frogs.
Now switching sides, the TCU defense did a phenomenal job in holding the Bears on their final drive of the half. Posed with a big 3rd and 8, Damonic Williams broke into the backfield and registered what was TCU's first sack of November.
A 48-yard field goal from Isaiah Hankins closed out the half as TCU leads 14-10.
TCU will receive the 2nd half kickoff.
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