TCU takes another step toward BCS

Published: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 11:51 p.m. MST
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SAN DIEGO — TCU rolled over San Diego State to stay in the perfect position for a stretch run to a BCS bowl.

Behind Andy Dalton's two touchdown passes and a pair of TD runs, along with its top-ranked defense, No. 6 TCU ran its winning streak to 12 games with a 55-12 rout of San Diego State on Saturday.

The Horned Frogs (9-0, 5-0 Mountain West) remained in the chase for their first BCS bowl with a dominating performance.

"That's the big thing," Dalton said. "Our ultimate goal is to end the season undefeated. We have a lot of potential but we have to keep going out and playing like this."

Dalton led an offense that scored on five of its first six possessions and gained more than 500 yards for the second straight game. The Horned Frogs were ahead of fellow undefeated Boise State, from the Western Athletic Conference, in last week's BCS standings.

The Horned Frogs jumped in front with touchdowns on five of their first six possessions in the first half. Dalton scored on runs of 13 and 7 yards as TCU held a 31-6 halftime lead. He also hit Ryan Christian on TD passes of 44 and 29 yards.

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"Early in the season on the road, we didn't start out fast," TCU coach Gary Patterson said. "One of the things I think we are finally doing, especially on offense, is that we are starting faster. That's what you have to do in the last half of the season. You let people hang around, anything can happen."

San Diego State (4-5, 2-3 MWC) struggled against TCU's top-ranked defense, managing just a 30-yard TD pass from Ryan Lindley to DeMarco Sampson and two field goals by Lane Yoshida.

TCU's 11-game winning streak is the nation's third-longest behind Florida's 19-game and Texas's 13-game streak. The Frogs have outscored their last four opponents, 178-25. TCU, which gained a season-high 578 yards in last week's 41-0 win at UNLV, had 551 against the Aztecs.

"Right now, we are a confident team," Horned Frogs running back Joseph Turner said. "We feel that no matter what play the coaches call, we are going to be successful."

AIR FORCE 35, ARMY 7: At Air Force Academy, Colo., Kevin Fogler caught a 73-yard TD pass and Anthony Wright returned a punt 88 yards for a score, helping Air Force beat Army for a fourth straight time Saturday.

Asher Clark rushed for two second-half scores as the Falcons (6-4, 4-2 MWC) broke open a tight game to become bowl eligible.

Before the game, the Air Force Academy held a moment of silence in honor of the shooting victims at Fort Hood. The flags on the campus also were lowered to half staff.

Trent Steelman rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown for the Black Knights (3-6), who have dropped three straight.

Air Force pulled away in the second half, scoring on four of their five drives.

Clark got the offense rolling right after halftime, finding a hole in Army's defense and racing 36 yards for his first touchdown of the season. He later added another on an 8-yard burst.

Fogler got behind the Black Knights' secondary late in the third quarter and Tim Jefferson hit him in stride. Fogler zigzagged his way into the end zone. He had 129 yards receiving on three catches.

Recent comments

Just for the record and not to take anything from Ryan Christian, the...

FloridaFrog Fan | Nov. 8, 2009 at 12:24 p.m.

Great Job and a Great Season TCU..... I am a UTE fan all the way from...

Afeaki | Nov. 8, 2009 at 11:32 a.m.

TCU is having a great season running through an average conference....

SWC leftovers | Nov. 8, 2009 at 11:13 a.m.

Image
Lenny Ignelzi, Associated Press

TCU running back Ryan Christian sails through the end zone after his 44-yard touchdown reception from Horned Frogs quarterback Andy Dalton on Saturday at San Diego State.

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