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| TCU's Griffin Kell (pictured) kicked a 25-yard field goal in the final seconds to beat Kansas, 31-28. |
“Thank you, Gary” has been the mantra of TCU fans since TCU and longtime head football coach Gary Patterson agreed to part ways on Sunday, October 31.
As of Saturday, November 20, the chant became, “Thank you, Griffin.”
That’s because on that picture-perfect autumn day, in picture-perfect Amon G. Carter Stadium, in picture-perfect Fort Worth, Texas, TCU kicker Griffin Kell drilled a picture-perfect 25-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to propel the Horned Frogs to a 31-28 win over Big 12 foe Kansas (Midnite had predicted a 38-33 TCU win).
The win in the final home game of TCU’s emotional and unprecedented 2021 football season improved the team’s overall record to 5-6, which keeps the Frogs’ bowl hopes alive.
To become bowl-eligible, TCU needs a victory in its regular-season finale on Black Friday, November 26, against Big 12 foe Iowa State, in Ames, Iowa.
With the win on Senior Day over the Jayhawks, TCU’s Big 12 record improved to 3-5. The Frogs are tied for sixth place with Texas Tech and West Virginia.
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| Tom C. "Midnite" Burke |
With the loss, Kansas dropped to 2-8, 1-7 Big 12. The Jayhawks occupy their normal place – last place – in the Big 12 standings.
The top three teams in conference play are Oklahoma (7-1), Oklahoma State (7-1) and Baylor (6-2.)
No. 7 Oklahoma State has clinched its first berth in a Big 12 Championship Game. The 2021 edition will be played on December 4, in AT&T Stadium, in Arlington, Texas.
Oklahoma State and No.10 Oklahoma play in their annual Bedlam Game this Saturday, November 27, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. If Oklahoma wins, the Sooners and the Cowboys will have a rematch in the championship game.
If Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma and No. 8 Baylor beats Texas Tech, in Waco, on Saturday, the 27th, the Cowboys and Bears will play in the championship game.
If Oklahoma and Baylor lose on Saturday, Baylor will be in the championship game against Oklahoma State.
Championship-game implications weren’t on the line when the Frogs and Jayhawks met each other, but it still was an emotional day in The Carter.
It was Senior Day and the last home game for popular players such as running back Emari Demercado, defensive tackle Corey Bethley and safety La’Kendrick Van Zandt.
Former TCU head football coach Gary Patterson (Coach P), who is TCU’s winningest head football coach, and his wife, Kelsey (Mrs. P), were in the tunnel to congratulate the senior Horned Frogs.
Earlier in the week, Coach Patterson issued his first statement since stepping down as the Horned Frogs’ coach on October 31.
“After 24 years, Kelsey and I are at a loss for words to describe how we feel about Fort Worth and TCU,” said Patterson in the statement. “This is why it has taken me so long to respond.
“We just want to say thank you for your friendship and support. To all the players and staff that are our friends, we love you and thank you for all of your time, hard work and effort. They say it takes a village and that is absolutely true!
“Lastly, I want to thank my family for their sacrifices so I could do something that I absolutely loved to do!
“Always your friends, Kelsey and Gary.”
At the beginning of the second quarter, Coach P delivered the “Give ‘em hell, TCU” portion of the traditional Riff Ram Video. His anticipated appearance received a loud cheer and standing ovation from many of the more than 35,000 in attendance. Watch: here
The victory over Kansas was the last game in Amon G. Carter Stadium for interim head football coach Jerry Kill and for most, if not all, of the Frogs’ coaching staff, depending on with whom the new TCU head football coach builds his staff.
All indications are that the Horned Frogs' new coach will be Sonny Dykes, a former offensive analyst for TCU who has been SMU's head football coach since December 11, 2017.
SMU's final regular-season game is Saturday, November 27.
Dykes could be announced as TCU's head coach as early as Sunday, November 28.
With the win over the Jayhawks, TCU improved to 2-1 under interim head football coach Jerry Kill.
Kill is being mentioned as the possible next head football coach at New Mexico State, which is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The university is expected after the season to part ways with Doug Martin, its current head football coach.
Kill, who has years of collegiate head football coaching experience, has done an outstanding job of holding TCU’s football staff and players together through a difficult time. He has honored Patterson’s legacy and has indebted TCU to him.
"I'm just proud of the kids,” said Kill after the win over Kansas. “They're still playing hard and our coaches are coaching hard. I just couldn't be anymore prouder than this group of kids. We won our senior day and that's something special that these kids will never forget. Max Duggan is the toughest quarterback or people that you'll ever see play the game of football – period.
“Max was raised by a hard-nosed dad; his dad is a football
coach. He's old school and that bloodline goes right to his kid, so we thank
his family for the bloodline and him carrying it on out (Duggan continues to play with a broken bone in one of his feet)."
After the game, Kill wrote a song, expressing his feelings about TCU and in honor of his best friend, Coach P. Listen: here
After the disappointing loss to the Frogs, Kansas head football coach Lance Leipold complimented Kill.
“I tip my hat to Jerry Kill on him stepping into a difficult
roll and still has his team prepared to play like they did today really
reflects his leadership," said Leipold.
Leipold, who is in his first season at the helm of KU’s football program, also wrote a song after the game. Listen: here
Thank you, Griffin!
Kell’s 25-yard, game-winning field goal was an emotional ending to the emotional day, ranking second in excitement this season to the Frogs’ improbable 30-28 win over Baylor on November 6, in their first game without Patterson as their head coach. Watch the winning kick: here
Kell had the opportunity to be the game’s hero because TCU erased a 14-7 halftime deficit, and, in particular, because of the play late in the game, with the game on the line, of Duggan, Demercado and receiver Derius Davis.
Duggan, Demercado and Davis starred in a dramatic 14-play, 67-yard drive that began at the Frogs’ 25-yard line, included five first downs and consumed 4:40.
During the drive, Demercado had 35 yards rushing, Davis had 10 yards receiving and 14 yards rushing, and Duggan had 10 yards passing and eight yards rushing.
The game winning drive and Kell’s kick were necessitated by a 14-point comeback by Kansas, which came into the game riding momentum from the its historic 57-56 overtime win over Texas in Austin on November 16.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Horned Frogs took a 28-14 lead on a one-yard touchdown run by Demercado, who had 89 yards rushing on 18 carries, just one yard shy of the career-high 90 yards he gained in the game against Oklahoma State.
Kansas responded with a five-play, 74-yard touchdown drive that cut the Jayhawks’ deficit to 28-21. The big play was a 28-yard scoring toss from quarterback Jalon Daniels to wide receiver Luke Grimm.
Less than five minutes later, the Jayhawks tied the game on a 10-yard pass from Daniels to tight end Jared Casey, a walk-on who caught the game-winning two-point conversion in Kansas’ victory over Texas. Jacob Borcila, who in the second quarter missed a 45-yard field, kicked the typing extra point.
Daniels had a proficient passing performance against the Frogs’ defense. He completed 22-of-30 passes for 255 yards. He was sacked twice and intercepted once.
Besides Daniels’ two touchdown passes, the Jayhawks scored touchdowns on a 14-yard run by Daniels and a two-yard run by running back Devin Neal, who was held to 59 rushing yards on 14 carries.
All four of TCU’s touchdowns came on the ground. Besides Demercado’s rushing touchdown, Davis, Kendre Miller and Duggan had touchdown runs.
Davis, who after Kansas’ opening drive of the game stalled muffed a punt that the Jayhawks recovered, began the scoring in the game with a 43-yard touchdown run on TCU’s opening drive.
The touchdown was Davis’ first career rushing score and ninth career touchdown via four different ways. He has four receiving touchdowns, three punt-return touchdowns and one kickoff-return touchdown.
Davis had 52 rushing yards on three carries. He also had 103 receiving yards, on six catches. It was his second career 100-yard receiving game. The six catches equaled a career-high set on two previous occasions.
Davis was one of five Horned Frogs who caught passes from Duggan, who completed 10-of-16 passes for 166 yards. He was intercepted once.
In the third quarter, Miller had a 56-yard touchdown run that tied the score at 14-14. It was Miller’s team-best seventh touchdown of the season.
Miller rushed for 112 yards on 12 carries, his third 100-yard effort in his last six games. He has four 100-yard performances in his career.
On a fourth-and-goal play in the third quarter, Duggan scored on a one-yard run to give TCU a 21-14 lead.
The rushing touchdown was Duggan’s third of the season and 19th of his career, the most among current Horned Frogs.
Duggan rushed for 74 yards on 14 carries.
The Horned Frogs had 492 total yards of offense; 326 rushing yards, 166 passing yards. TCU improved to 104-8 in its last 112 games when topping 200 yards rushing.
TCU’s defense held Kansas’s offense to 379 total yards; 255 passing pards, 124 rushing yards.
Super senior defensive tackle Corey Bethley, playing in his final home game, totaled a career-high six tackles.
Linebacker Dee Winters had a team-best eight tackles and recorded his second interception of the season, tying Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson for the team lead.
Hodges-Tomlinson had two pass breakups and six tackles.
Defensive end Dylan Horton recorded his third sack of the season, ranking second to defensive end Ochaun Mathis’ four sacks on the season.
Defensive end Khari Coleman and defensive tackle Terrell Cooper combined on a sack.
The Horned Frogs now have at least one sack in 95 of their last 102 games.
Safety Josh Foster made his first career start. He is the ninth player on defense this season to make his first career TCU start.
Most importantly, Kell had his first game-winning field goal of the season.
Thank you, Griffin!
TCU will look to become bowl eligible in its regular-season finale against Iowa State on Friday, November 26, at 3:30 pm (Central), in Jack Trice Stadium, in Ames, Iowa. FS1 will televise the game.
TCU is playing on the day after Thanksgiving for the fifth time in the last seven seasons. The Horned Frogs are 3-1 in that stretch.
TCU's Black Friday wins include: Baylor, 28-21, in double overtime, in Fort Worth, in 2015; 31-9, at Texas, in 2016; and Baylor, 45-22, in Fort Worth, in 2017, to clinch a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game.
Since 2005, TCU is 8-3 when playing on a Friday.
On paper, Iowa State appears to be a tough test for the Frogs, despite TCU holding an 8-4 series lead, including a 5-4 advantage since beginning Big 12 play in 2012, and being 3-2 versus the Cyclones in Ames.
Iowa State is fourth in the Big 12 in scoring offense, averaging 31.5 points per game, and fourth in scoring defense, allowing opponents an average of 21.2 points per game.
The Cyclones are fifth in the conference in total offense, averaging 428 total yards per game, and second in total offense defense, allowing an average of 306.3 total yards of offense per game.
ISU has the Big 12’s number one passing offense, averaging 269.5 passing yards per game, and the conference’s second-rated passing defense, allowing 185.3 passing yards per game.
Iowa State’s rushing offense is sixth in the conference, averaging 158.5 rushing yards per game. Its rushing defense is fourth, allowing 121 rushing yards per game.
Iowa State senior quarterback Brock Purdy (#15) is the conference’s second-best passer, averaging 247.5 passing yards per game. He has completed 248-of-338 passes, for 2722 yards. He has thrown 16 touchdown passes and seven interceptions.
Purdy will play in his final home game on Friday, owning/sharing 31 Iowa State football records. Purdy ranks fourth nationally in completion percentage (73.4) and is 15-1 as a starter vs. Big 12 teams in Jack Trice Stadium.
Senior wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson (#8) is second in the Big 12 in receiving, averaging 76.9 receiving yards per game. He has caught 75 passes for 846 yards. He is averaging 11.2 yards per catch. He has five touchdown receptions and a long catch of 51 yards.
Redshirt senior tight end Charlie Kolar (#88) is the conference’s seventh-best receiver, averaging 65.8 receiving yards per game. He has caught 53 passes for 658 yards, an average of 12.4 yards per catch. He has caught five touchdown passes and has a long catch of 34 yards. He is two receptions shy of the single-season Iowa State tight end reception record.
In Iowa State’s last game, a 28-21 loss to Oklahoma, Kolar set Iowa State single-game marks in receptions (12) and receiving yards (152) for a tight end.
Kolar is one of three finalists for the 2021 John Mackey Award. It is the second consecutive season he has been a finalist for the award, which is given annually to the nation's best tight end. Kolar is the greatest tight end in Iowa State history, earning All-America and CoSIDA Academic All-America honors twice in his career. Kolar is also a finalist for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy, given annually to college football's best scholar-athlete.
Iowa State running back Breece Hall is the Big 12’s third-ranked runner, averaging 111.8 rushing yards per game.
For the second year in a row, Hall is among the three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the nation's best running back. Hall finished second a year ago to Alabama's Najee Harris.
With 67 tackles, senior linebacker Mike Rose (#23) is ninth in the conference for tackles. He averages 6.7 tackles per game. He has three sacks, which ranks 23rd in the conference.
Senior linebacker Jake Hummel (#35) ranks 15th in the conference with 6.3 tackles per game. He has 70 tackles and one sack.
Junior defensive end Will McDonald (#9) is third in the Big 12 in tackles for loss. He has 13, for 76 yards in losses. He ranks second in the league with 10.5 sacks.
Senior defensive end Eyioma Uwazurike (#58) ranks fourth in tackles for loss in the Big 12. He has 7.5.
For passes defended, sophomore defensive back Isheem Young (#1), senior defensive back Greg Eisworth (#12) and senior linebacker Jake Hummel (#35) ranks 23rd, 24th and 25th, respectively. Young has two pass breakups and two interceptions. Eisworth has three pass breakups and one interception. Hummel has three pass breakups and one interception.
TCU is 1-3 on the road this season. The victory was over Texas Tech, 52-31, in Lubbock. The losses were to Oklahoma, 52-31, Kansas State, 31-12 ( Patterson’s last game) and Oklahoma State, 63-17 (first away game under Kill).
Since 2009, TCU is seventh nationally with 45 road wins. The Horned Frogs are 45-23 (.662) in that stretch.
TCU's 53-29 record (.646) in road and neutral-site games since 2009 is seventh-best in the FBS.
TCU's 35-22 mark (.614) in conference road games since 2009 is 13th-best in the country.
TCU is 23-22 on the road in its Big 12 history.
Because of the Frogs’ win over Kansas last Saturday, TCU, on the road in Ames, has an opportunity on Friday to add to its success on the road over the years and earn another road game (a bowl game) for itself in 2021.
Thank you, Griffin!
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