TCU clobbers Colorado State, 44-6
Horned Frogs defensive tackle Jerry Hughes tackles CSU quarterback Grant Stucker. (Fort Collins Coloradoan photo)
FORT WORTH — Fourteen different players got a chance to run the ball for TCU as the Horned Frogs racked up 275 yards rushing in a 44-6 beatdown of Colorado State on Saturday afternoon. The No. 12 Frogs remain undefeated and hope this game will boost their position in tomorrow’s first BCS standings of the season.
TCU quarterback Andy Dalton had 42 yards himself to accompany 211 yards passing and two touchdowns.
Briefly, the Rams looked as if they would be able to keep the game close, even taking an early 6-0 lead on two Ben DeLine field goals in the first quarter. CSU stopped TCU on its first two drives, forcing a three-and-out followed by a fumble recovery inside the Frogs’ 30-yard line.
But TCU woke up, taking the lead 10-6 with 2:24 left in the first half. The Frogs then smartly called timeout when CSU was forced to punt with just over a minute remaining, and Jeremy Kerley ran back the kick 69 yards for a touchdown. Instead of heading into halftime with a manageable four-point deficit, the Rams were down a couple of scores.
TCU never looked back, scoring touchdowns on its next four drives while CSU never got more than five yards into its opponent’s territory.
Things got ugly enough that Rams backup Jon Eastman saw some playing time late in the game. Eastman manged to get 53 yards on three-of-five passing, which was nearly as many yards as starter Grant Stucker, who had 59 on seven-of-15.
The running game for Colorado State also died in the first quarter, when Leonard Mason went out with a rib injury. Mason had a great start, rushing for 42 yards on seven attempts, but left the field in excruciating pain after only eight minutes of game time. Alex Square added 38 yards of his own after backs John Mosure and Lou Greenwood were ineffective, but it was too late.
CSU finished with only 182 yards of total offense. TCU had 499.
“They outclassed us and outplayed us in every way, shape and form,” Rams coach Steve Fairchild told the media afterward. “We didn’t play well enough to even give them a game.”
