TCU-Duquesne Game Photos

 

Photos by Tom "Midnite" Burke

 

(photos above and below) TCU's captains for the game against Duquesne were Dee Winters (#13), Ochuan Mathis (#32), Derius Davis (#11) and Max Duggan (#15). They were joined by TCU "Block T" honorary captain Allanda Smith, a former TCU safety.

(photos above and below) The Duquesne game was Doug Mecham's (black shirt) first in his return as TCU's offensive coordinator. The Frogs' offense clicked, particularly in the first half, when TCU rang up 335 yards of total offense and put the game away with 35 points. For the game, the Frogs scored 48 points and accumulated 431 yards of offense.

TCU starting quarterback Max Duggan (#15, top photo) was sharp in the first game of the Frogs' 2021 season. He completed 14-of-19 passes for 207 yards. He threw one touchdown pass, a 16-yarder to receiver JD Spielman (#10, bottom photo). Duggan's 207 yards in the air put him over the 4,000-yard career mark. He's now at 4,079 yards,  which ranks ninth in TCU history. Spielman's touchdown was his first as a Horned Frog. It was his first score since November 29, 2019, while playing for Nebraska against Iowa.

TCU quarterback Max Duggan (#15, top photo, by Tom Burke, and bottom photo, by Richard Simbala) scored the game's first touchdown, on an eight-yard run less than six minutes into the contest. The rushing touchdown was the 17th of Duggan's career. He led TCU last season with 10 rushing scores. Duggan ran only twice against Duquesne.

After the offense returned to the sideline following his touchdown run, TCU quarterback Max Duggan (#15) congratulated linemen Steve Avila (#79) and John Lanz (#53).

Duquesne occasionally upended TCU running back Emari Demercado (top photo), but Demercado (#3, bottom photo) was able to run for 32 yards on five carries. He also scored a touchdown, on a two-yard run in the first quarter. It was Demercado's first career touchdown.

TCU running back Kendre Miller (#33) led TCU rushers in the Duquesne game with 54 yards on eight carries. He also scored a touchdown, on a five-yard run in the third quarter. It was his third career touchdown run.

TCU running back Zach Evans (#6) rambled for 27 yards on five carries against Duquesne. He had a long run of 13 yards and scored a touchdown, on a two-yard run in the first quarter. Evans now has a scoring run in each of his last three games.

Daimarqua Foster (#21) was one of 10 players who gained rushing yards against the Dukes. Foster's 10 carries were the most. He rushed for 32 yards, with a long run of 10 yards. The Frogs rushed 38 times for 178 yards.

TCU receiver Quentin Johnston (#1) breaks loose from a tackle after catching a pass from quarterback Max Duggan. Johnston had four receptions for 38 yards, with a long catch of 12 yards.

TCU sophomore receivers Savion Williams (#18) and Quentin Johnston (#1), senior receiver Taye Barber (#4) and redshirt freshman receiver Blake Nowell (#87) caught a combined eight passes for 114 yards. Williams had a career-high two receptions for 22 yards. Johnston caught four passes for 38 yards. Barber caught a 34-yard pass that put him over 1,000 career yards receiving. He has 1,027 yards. Nowell had one reception, a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chandler Morris. It was Nowell's first career reception and touchdown.

TCU running back Kendre Miller (#33) congratulates receiver Blake Nowell (#87) after Nowell caught a 20-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Nowell's touchdown was the Frogs' last score in their 45-3 victory.

TCU backup quarterback Matthew Downing (#7) completed three-of-four passes for 26 yards. He ran once, for two yards.

Chandler Morris (#14), a transfer quarterback from Oklahoma, was the third Frogs' quarterback to play against Duquesne. Morris' one pass attempt resulted in a 20-yard touchdown completion to receiver Blake Nowell. It was Morris' first touchdown pass as a Horned Frog. It also was Nowell's first career catch and touchdown.

True freshman quarterback Sam Jackson (#16) and senior running back Deryl Reynolds (#24) saw action in the fourth quarter against the Dukes. Reynolds carried the football three times for five yards. Jackson ran twice, for 11 yards.

Griffin Kell (#39) kicked an 18-yard field goal in the third quarter, to give the Frogs a 38-3 lead. Kell is 16-of-22 in his TCU kicking career.

Along with his players, TCU head coach Gary Patterson (top and bottom photos) felt the effects of an intense early evening temperature that sizzled in the high 90s, with a heat index close to 100 degrees.

TCU head coach Gary Patterson's defensive signals resulted in the Horned Frogs holding Duquesne's offense to 137 total yards and three points. The Dukes had 76 passing yards and 61 rushing yards. Duquesne's 137 yards of total offense were the fewest by a TCU opponent since September 28, 2019, when Kansas was held to 159 total yards. Under Patterson, the Horned Frogs are now 46-0 when holding opponents to 200 yards or less.

TCU senior safety La'Kendrick Van Zandt (#20) receives instructions from TCU head coach Gary Patterson on the sideline during the TCU-Duquesne game.

It was the first game of the season, but TCU head coach Gary Patterson already was willing to give game officials his view of things.

TCU defensive end Colt Ellison (#44, top photo) and TCU linebacker Wyatt Harris (#25, bottom photo) helped the Horned Frogs' defense hold the Dukes to 76 passing yards. Duquesne quarterbacks completed only three-of-12 passes.

TCU cornerback Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson (#1) intercepted a pass by Duquesne quarterback Joe Mischler. It was the first career interception for Hodges-Tomlinson.

TCU junior linebacker Dee Winters (#13, top photo) and senior defensive end Dylan Horton (#98, bottom photo) helped the Horned Frogs' defense hold Duquesne to 61 rushing yards on 29 carries. Winters led TCU defenders with seven tackles, including one tackle for loss. Winters now has 100 career tackles. Horton had three tackles, including one tackle for loss.

Duquesne's only points of the game came on a 26-yard field goal by Brian Bruzdewicz in the third quarter.

Duquesne suffered several injuries in the game, including to quarterback Joe Mischler (#11, top photo) and lineman Ken Kurzinger (#97, bottom photo). Because of the Dukes' lack of depth and the lopsided score, TCU head coach Gary Patterson and Duquesne head coach Jerry Schmitt agreed to limit the second half of  the game to 24 minutes (two 12-minute quarters, instead of the customary 30 minutes (two 15-minute quarters). So the length of the game was 54 minutes, instead of the usual 60 minutes.

TCU head coach Gary Patterson and Duquesne head coach Jerry Schmitt meet at midfield following the Horned Frogs' 45-3 victory.

The TCU band, Showgirls, cheerleaders, students, players and coaches celebrate the 45-3 season-opening victory with the playing and singing of the TCU Alma Mater.

TCU Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati (top left) and TCU Football team doctor Mark Wylie (right) celebrate TCU's 45-3 victory.

With the season-opening 45-3 victory over Duquesne, under head coach Gary Patterson TCU improves to 16-5 in season-openers and 19-2 in home-openers. TCU is 93-27 in home games under Patterson, including a 48-8 mark in night contests.