TCU's new up-tempo offense executed at high speed again Saturday in the Horned Frogs' 30-7 victory over Minnesota. But the Frogs will have another week off after coming in from a bye, creating a different kind of pace challenge.
"It's hard to get the offense in sync and doing the things they do when they play every 14 days," Frogs coach Gary Patterson said. TCU (2-0) won't play again until Sept. 27 at SMU.
Josh Doctson had two first-half touchdown receptions and TCU's defense smothered Minnesota's run-oriented attack. TCU forced five turnovers and held Minnesota (2-1) to 99 yards rushing -- 134 below its average.
Doctson had a leaping grab with his right hand for a 7-yard score that increased TCU's lead to 17-0 early in the second quarter.
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"I just put my hand out there, and it kind of stuck," said Doctson, a junior in his second season playing for TCU after beginning his college career at Wyoming. "I can stretch farther than with two hands."
Trevone Boykin was 27 of 46 for 258 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed 12 times for 92 yards.
TCU ran 73 plays for 427 yards after going for 555 yards on 96 plays in beating FCS team Samford 48-14.
"You have to understand, it's not about scoring 60 points with this offense," Patterson said. "You have to score one more point. I'm excited about the win."
Minnesota coach Jerry Kill cited TCU's speed in determining Saturday's outcome.
"I'd like to say we didn't play very well; I don't think that's true," Kill said. "TCU has always played great defense. They've always been able to run."
TCU held David Cobb to 41 yards on 15 carries. Cobb, who practiced sparingly during the week because of a sprained ankle, averaged 145.5 yards rushing in Minnesota's previous two victories.
"I thought he did some good things," Kill said, "but he wasn't at full speed."
The Gophers' lone score came on a 12-yard pass from freshman Chris Streveler to Maxx Williams with 10:56 to play.
Doctson opened the scoring with a 13-yard over-the-shoulder catch. He finished with six catches for 64 yards.
TCU wasted little time adding points on the scoreboard. Only one of the Horned Frogs' six scoring drives took longer than 2 minutes.
Minnesota's starting quarterback, Mitch Leidner, left the game early in the fourth quarter following a hard tackle. Leidner was 12 of 26 for 151 yards and three interceptions and also lost a fumble.
Leidner had just returned after leaving last week's Gophers win over Middle Tennessee State with a sprained ligament in his left knee.
TCU scored on its first two possessions and was never seriously threatened the rest of the way. After Doctson's first touchdown catch, the Frogs followed Minnesota's second consecutive three-and-out with the first of Jaden Oberkrom's three field goals, from 46 yards.
The Frogs' opening scoring drive of 18 yards was set up by a 46-yard punt return by Cameron Echols-Luper.
Midway through the first quarter, TCU had outgained Minnesota in total yardage 50 to minus-1. The Gophers finished the first quarter with minus-1 yard rushing.
Two of Minnesota's three first-half turnovers were turned into TCU touchdowns. Cobb lost a fumble on the first play after Boykin was intercepted by Briean Boddy-Calhoun at the Gophers 39.
TCU converted that into a 1-yard touchdown run by B.J. Catalon for a 24-0 lead with 9:01 to play in the half.
Minnesota had opened each of its previous two seasons with four consecutive non-conference wins.
TCU coach Gary Patterson and Minnesota coach Jerry Kill are long-time friends. Kill served in Patterson's wedding party 10 years ago. Patterson said he told Kill afterward that he loved him.
"He's a real good man," Patterson said.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
