LAWRENCE, Kan. — In their first game as a member of the Big 12 conference, the No. 16 Texas Christian Horned Frogs beat the Kansas Jayhawks 20-6 on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
KU (1-2, 0-1 Big 12) was able to hang around for four quarters, and had plenty of chances to change the game, but TCU (2-0, 2-0 Big 12) never let the Hawks cross the goal line.
The Horned Frogs racked up a total of 487 yards on offense. The Jayhawks finished with 380 yards of total offense, but struggled mightily when it came to putting points on the board.
A botched snap by TCU gave KU the ball on the game’s first drive, and kicker Ron Doherty kicked a 37-yard field goal to put the Hawks up 3-0. On the ensuing drive, KU recovered a fumble by TCU junior quarterback Casey Pachall, but then gave it right back.
KU senior QB Dayne Crist threw an interception at midfield that turned into a TCU touchdown. Pachall hit sophomore wide receiver Brandon Carter for an 8-yd TD pass to give the Frogs a 7-3 lead in the first quarter. KU’s defense was able to limit the damage however, and TCU held a slim 10-6 lead at the half.
Despite turning the ball over twice, the Hawks won the turnover battle by forcing four TCU fumbles.
TCU extended its lead to 17-6 late in the third quarter with an 8-play, 79-yard TD drive. Pachall again found Carter in the end zone, this time for a 25-yard TD pass.
Carter had a monster game for the Frogs, finishing with eight catches for 141 yards and 2 TD’s. Pachall completed 24 of 30 passes for 335 yards and 2 TD’s.
KU went on a 10-play 90-yd drive late in the fourth quarter, and threatened to make it a one possession game with 1:30 left to play. Crist tried to run it in from the 3-yd line, but fumbled on the goal line, and killed any chance the Hawks had at a comeback.
Crist finished 19-39 for 303 yards and an interception. The Hawks all but abandoned the running game in the second half. TCU finished with 152 yards to KU’s 77. Frogs junior running back Waymon James had 12 carries for 99 yards.
KU plays their first road game of the season next Saturday when they take on the Northern Illinois Huskies.
