Texas Christian 36, Houston 13
By JORDAN GODWIN
Associated Press
HOUSTON - TCU quarterback Chandler Morris threw for 314 yards and two touchdowns as the Horned Frogs spoiled Houston’s Big 12 Conference debut with a 36-13 victory.
TCU (2-1, 1-0) won its second straight game after a season-opening loss to Colorado.
TCU’s offense had a fast-paced opening drive that ended with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Morris to Warren Thompson, just 1:31 into the game. Morris finished 24 of 37, threw one interception and added 53 rushing yards on 12 carries.
Houston (1-2, 0-1) moved up from the American Athletic Conference this season but suffered a rude welcoming to the Big 12.
The Cougars’ only touchdown came late in the first half on a 98-yard kickoff return by Matthew Golden, cutting TCU’s lead to 13-10. TCU immediately answered with a 16-yard touchdown run by Emani Bailey, and the Horned Frogs led 20-13 at halftime.
Bailey ran for 126 yards on 23 carries.
TCU’s defense held the Cougars in check. Quarterback Donovan Smith completed 18 of 35 passes for 245 yards, while the Cougars totaled 35 rushing yards on 26 carries.
Houston was trying to bounce back from a double-overtime loss to cross-town rival Rice.
Houston receiver Samuel Brown entered the game leading the Big 12 with 15 receptions and 244 yards through his first two games. Brown had another active game against TCU, making five catches for 99 yards.
Griffin Kell made three of five field-goal attempts for TCU, including a 53-yarder.
THE TAKEAWAY
TCU: After entering’s game ranked 126th in the nation in allowing 343.5 passing yards per game, TCU’s secondary showed much improvement against Houston, aided in part by a much more aggressive pass rush up front. TCU had six sacks and eight tackles for loss.
Houston: The Cougars have one more non-conference game against Sam Houston before finishing out the season with eight Big 12 games. Finding an offensive rhythm and getting more from the running game could be key.
September 16, 2023
| Scoring Summary |
| First Quarter |
TCU | Hou |
| TCU |
TD |
13:29 |
Warren Thompson 33 yard TD pass from Chandler Morris (Griffin Kell Extra Point) |
7 |
0 |
| Hou |
FG |
10:06 |
Jack Martin 44 yard field goal |
7 |
3 |
| Second Quarter |
TCU | Hou |
| TCU |
FG |
7:08 |
Griffin Kell 40 yard field goal |
10 |
3 |
| TCU |
FG |
5:37 |
Griffin Kell 53 yard field goal |
13 |
3 |
| Hou |
TD |
5:21 |
Matthew Golden 98 yard kick return for TD (Jack Martin Extra Point) |
13 |
10 |
| TCU |
TD |
2:58 |
Emani Bailey 16 yard TD run (Griffin Kell Extra Point) |
20 |
10 |
| Hou |
FG |
0:56 |
Jack Martin 44 yard field goal |
20 |
13 |
| Third Quarter |
TCU | Hou |
| TCU |
TD |
12:29 |
Savion Williams 31 yard TD pass from Chandler Morris (Griffin Kell Kick Failed) |
26 |
13 |
| TCU |
FG |
3:47 |
Griffin Kell 37 yard field goal |
29 |
13 |
| Fourth Quarter |
TCU | Hou |
| TCU |
TD |
2:55 |
Trey Sanders 18 yard TD run (Griffin Kell Extra Point) |
36 |
13 |
| Team Stats |
| |
TCU |
Houston |
| First downs |
35 |
12 |
| Rushing |
18 |
3 |
| Passing |
15 |
8 |
| Penalty |
2 |
1 |
| 3rd Down Efficiency |
6-15, 40% |
4-15, 27% |
| 4th down efficiency |
2-3, 67% |
0-4, 0% |
| Rushes-Yards |
51-250 |
27-55 |
| Passing Yards |
314 |
225 |
| Return Yards |
29 |
235 |
| Completions-Attempts-Int |
24-37-1 |
17-35-2 |
| Sacks-Yards Lost |
3-16 |
6-21 |
| Punts |
2 |
4 |
| Fumbles Lost |
1-1 |
0-0 |
| Penalties - Yards |
7-75 |
7-60 |
| TCU Passing |
| Player |
Cmp |
Att |
Yds |
TDs |
Int |
| C. Morris |
24 |
37 |
314 |
2 |
1 |
| Houston Passing |
| Player |
Cmp |
Att |
Yds |
TDs |
Int |
| D. Smith |
17 |
35 |
225 |
0 |
2 |
| TCU Rushing |
| Player |
Carries |
Yds |
Avg |
TDs |
| E. Bailey |
23 |
126 |
5.5 |
1 |
| C. Morris |
12 |
53 |
4.4 |
0 |
| T. Sanders |
8 |
48 |
6.0 |
1 |
| T. Battle |
1 |
10 |
10.0 |
0 |
| J. Earle |
1 |
9 |
9.0 |
0 |
| C. Wren |
2 |
5 |
2.5 |
0 |
| S. Williams |
1 |
3 |
3.0 |
0 |
| C. Cook |
1 |
2 |
2.0 |
0 |
| J. Bech |
2 |
-6 |
-3.0 |
0 |
| Houston Rushing |
| Player |
Carries |
Yds |
Avg |
TDs |
| S. Sneed |
10 |
36 |
3.6 |
0 |
| P. Jenkins |
4 |
15 |
3.8 |
0 |
| D. Smith |
12 |
4 |
0.3 |
0 |
| B. Campbell |
1 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
| TCU Receiving |
| Player |
Rec |
Yds |
Avg |
TDs |
| J. Richardson |
6 |
60 |
10.0 |
0 |
| S. Williams |
3 |
54 |
18.0 |
1 |
| J. Robinson |
3 |
47 |
15.7 |
0 |
| M. Everhart |
3 |
45 |
15.0 |
0 |
| W. Thompson |
1 |
33 |
33.0 |
1 |
| J. Bech |
1 |
26 |
26.0 |
0 |
| E. Bailey |
3 |
23 |
7.7 |
0 |
| J. Wiley |
2 |
14 |
7.0 |
0 |
| C. Curtis |
1 |
7 |
7.0 |
0 |
| C. Wren |
1 |
5 |
5.0 |
0 |
| Houston Receiving |
| Player |
Rec |
Yds |
Avg |
TDs |
| S. Brown |
5 |
99 |
19.8 |
0 |
| M. Golden |
4 |
56 |
14.0 |
0 |
| J. Manjack IV |
4 |
50 |
12.5 |
0 |
| S. Sneed |
2 |
9 |
4.5 |
0 |
| S. Johnson |
1 |
8 |
8.0 |
0 |
| M. O'Laughlin |
1 |
3 |
3.0 |
0 |
| TCU Interceptions |
| Player |
Int |
Yards |
| B. Clark |
1 |
1 |
| Z. Marcheselli |
1 |
0 |
| Houston Interceptions |
| Player |
Int |
Yards |
| M. Fleming |
1 |
35 |
| TCU Punting |
| Player |
Punts |
Yards |
Avg |
| J. Sandy |
2 |
88 |
44.0 |
| Houston Punting |
| Player |
Punts |
Yards |
Avg |
| L. Wilkins |
4 |
184 |
46.0 |
| TCU Punt Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| J. Earle |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Houston Punt Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| M. Fleming |
1 |
-1 |
-1.0 |
| TCU Kick Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| M. Everhart |
1 |
28 |
28.0 |
| Houston Kick Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| P. Jenkins |
3 |
69 |
23.0 |
| M. Golden |
3 |
132 |
44.0 |
| TCU Missed FG |
| Player |
Length |
| G. Kell |
60 |
| G. Kell |
50 |
| Houston Missed FG |
| Player |
Length |
| J. Martin |
48 |
