Kendre Miller ran for 158 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries to help host TCU remain unbeaten with a 34-24 victory over Texas Tech on Saturday afternoon at Fort Worth, Texas.
The Horned Frogs (9-0, 6-0 Big 12), who were No. 7 in the first College Football Playoff rankings, trailed 17-13 heading into the fourth quarter before erupting for three touchdowns.
TCU coach Sonny Dykes joined Francis Schmidt (in 1929) for the all-time mark of nine consecutive wins to start a coaching tenure at the school.
Frogs quarterback and Maxwell Award semifinalist Max Duggan struggled early but found his rhythm in the final period. Duggan completed 12 of 23 passes for 195 yards and threw both of his touchdown passes in the fourth quarter.
The first went for 23 yards to Derius Davis, who finished with three catches for 36 yards and also opened the game’s scoring by returning a punt 82 yards for a touchdown.
The second touchdown toss was a 16-yarder to Emari Demarcado out of the backfield.
Miller had given TCU the lead with 13:25 left in the fourth quarter on a 2-yard touchdown run.
The Red Raiders (4-5, 2-4) lost for the fourth time in five games.
Texas Tech had to switch quarterbacks on Saturday after starter Behren Morton suffered an injury on a run during the second quarter. Morton completed 7 of 10 passes for 79 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions before he was helped off the field by teammates and limped to the locker room.
Tyler Shough entered in relief of Morton and put the Red Raiders ahead 17-13 with 8:38 to go in the third quarter on a 33-yard touchdown pass to J.J. Sparkman.
But TCU’s defense stopped Texas Tech on consecutive drives and then Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson intercepted Shough with 5:02 to play, effectively putting the game out of reach.
Shough ran for a 3-yard touchdown with 1:46 left, but Texas Tech’s onside kick was recovered by the Horned Frogs. Shough completed 9 of 22 passes for 78 yards.
–Field Level Media