TCU 13-7 Utah (Oct. 19, 2024) Game Recap

SALT LAKE CITY — TCU capitalized on a stifling defensive performance, Josh Hoover rushed for a touchdown and passed for 263 yards and the Horned Frogs beat Utah 13-7 on Saturday night.

“So grateful for my team and our defense. This is one of the best defensive performances I’ve ever seen. They played so hard tonight and set the tone,” Hoover said.

The Horned Frog defense stopped Utah on fourth down with 2:35 to play, and then Savion Williams scored a first down on fourth-and-1 with 2:11 to play after TCU (4-3, 2-2). Big 12) led by 0-for-7 on third downs in the second half.

“We are in the mix and when they said we would take charge of the game I was fully confident he would get it. This guy is the ultimate teammate and ultimate player,” Hoover said of Williams, who had 72 yards on a variety of handoffs and direct snaps.

Utah seventh-grader Cam Rising, playing through injury, had his worst game as a Ute in last week’s loss to Arizona State and was then ruled out for the season with a lower leg injury.

The Utes (4-3, 1/3 Big 12) then became new Isaac Wilson’s team. Some players lamented the loss of their captain, but expressed relief that the team would only have one game plan instead of two-pronged plans depending on whether Rising could play or not.

But Wilson missed open receivers and held the ball too long while facing constant TCU pressure until he launched a perfect 71-yard TD pass to Money Parks in the third quarter to bring Utah within a score.

“We had to sell out to stop the rush and we did. We tackled exceptionally well…and that’s a big deal for us as it’s the first time this year we’ve played free football where both teams played well together,” TCU Sonny Dykes said.

The Horned Frogs have struggled to stop the run and get to the passer this season, but they were consistent in Utah’s backfield until the Utes switched coverages and Wilson made a few plays.

“We felt like people were trying to run the ball on us. But if we can get them in those passing situations, we can go out and be more dangerous,” said Devin Deal, who had two sacks.

Early in the game, Hoover moved the ball easily, but the TCU offense was stuck in the red zone, scoring just three points on three first-half plays inside the Utah 10-yard line due to a lost fumble and a blocked field goal .

Hoover, who was 22 of 41, came into the game ranked third in the nation on a nation-best 10-game streak with at least 20 completed passes and two touchdowns, but was unable to find the end zone against the Utes.

Hoover scored the game’s first touchdown with 7:00 left until halftime after sending a pair of accurate passes to Eric McAlister and Drake Dabney.

Kyle Lemmerman’s second field goal with 9:32 left in the third quarter gave TCU a 13-0 lead.

The Horned Frogs held Utah to 68 yards rushing and held Wilson to 17 of 33 passing and one interception.

“As an entire offensive unit, we would like to apologize to the defense. It’s a team game, but they did their best. (The offense) has to score more than seven points a game,” Wilson said.

Utah hasn’t lost three games in a row since the Utes lost four games in a row during the 2017 season, which was also the last time they lost two home games in a season.

“It’s no secret what our problems are,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said as Utah scored just 17 points in its last two home games, marking the fewest points in two home games for the Utes since 1990. “Everything is fine.” Things are in the air right now and everything is up for evaluation.”

Meanwhile, TCU is keeping its Big 12 title hopes alive in this tumultuous conference season.

“We’ve probably played a little tight so far this year, and I think we’ll gain a lot of confidence from that,” Dykes said.

The snack bar

TCU: The Horned Frogs played their best defensive game of the season, but the offense faltered in the second half, giving the Utes some hope. If TCU’s red zone offense had been sharper, the game could have been a blowout, but the win was important after the surprising loss to Houston two weeks ago.

Utah: The defense bent over backwards to give Utah a chance after the team was whistled for just 86 yards from the field in the first half. Wilson looked better after his shaky start, but the Utes abandoned their rushing attack after TCU determined to make the freshman QB beat them and routed the ball.

Block this kick!

Utah’s Tao Johnson becomes the first NCAA player since at least 2012 to record a blocked field goal and a blocked field goal TD return (vs. Baylor) in the same season.

With one blocked punt in the first half, TCU ranks first in the nation with four blocked kicks of all types.

Next

TCU hosts Texas Tech next Saturday.

Utah visits Houston next Saturday.

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AP College Football: and