TCU returned to their home at Amon G. Carter Stadium this week following a predictably rough prior week engagement at Oklahoma. TCU failed to lift their 2021 win total. Facing the West Virginia Mountaineers, TCU went scoreless in the second half, while WVU scored in each quarter with 487 total yards of offense. The game’s 29-17 final score left each unranked team with identical season records, 3-4 overall and 1-2 in Big 12 competition. They stare up the conference ladder at the likes of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Baylor.
Junior QB Max Duggan connected on 16 of 26 aerial attempts, netting 244 yards and a touchdown. He was also, however, twice intercepted.
Junior running back Zach Evans was out for an injury last two weeks. He was back on the field, but the Frogs’ running game was essentially a non-factor. Evans and sophomore Kendre Miller combined accounted for only 116 rushing yards on 24 carries.
Duggan logged seven rushing attempts. He was twice pinned in his own backfield and forced to hurry a throwing attempt on two other occasions.
By way of contrast, TCU’s defense recorded a single sack and no hurries. In all, the Mountaineers’ 487 yards from scrimmage was a dominating number, nearly 100 greater than the TCU total.
WVU had a decisive edge in three other reliably indicative metrics; WVU had 24 First Downs, 3 Turnovers, and 35:30 Time of Possession; in contrast, TCU had 19 First Downs, no Turnovers, and 24:30 Time of Possession.
Addressing his team following the game, a displeased TCU Head Coach, Gary Patterson, reminded them of the obvious, “You got to play good defense and you can’t turn the ball over. Defensively you’ve got to get some stops.”
Whether or not the Frogs can incorporate his words into their game will be on display Saturday afternoon, October 30, when they travel to Manhattan, KS, to take on the 4-3 Kansas State Wildcats.