5 Things We Noticed

1. Charmed Life

TCU’s defense held West Virginia (the second highest scoring offense in the nation) to 7-3 at half time. Ranthony Texada had his second sack of the season and gave TCU a chance to stay in the game with other pivotal pressure points. Photo by Glen E. Ellman

Thus far in 2017, everything is coming up Horned Frogs. TCU beat West Virginia despite being outgained by 102 yards and out ball-controlled by almost three minutes. The Mountaineers should check Craigslist because they had some missed connections. A botched field goal and a reversed interception call that might have altered the game’s outcome sabotaged West Virginia’s otherwise solid day. In a contest between two excellent teams, the Frogs were victorious thanks to a handful of plays that went their way. Sometimes big dreams happen because of little breaks. If the football gods be smiling down on the GameDay-sunshine campus in ol’ Fort Worth, so be it.

2. Turnovers Win Championships

In the 2016 campaign, TCU finished the year with 16 defensive turnovers, three fewer than the legendary ball hawk squad of 2015 garnered. Five games into 2017, TCU’s defense has gained seven interceptions and four fumbles. Safety Nick Orr leads the takeaway frenzy with two interceptions and added another pick to his pocket against West Virginia. Nothing can be quite as demoralizing to an opponent as first-and-ten turning into a rest on the sideline. So keep your eyes on the prize, TCU defense.

3. Mr. Everything

Is there such a thing as a perfect hat trick in football? If there is, quarterback Kenny Hill can add scoring three ways to his list of accomplishments. Hill’s third quarter 45-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Reagor was a fantastic follow up to Reagor’s Hail Mary touchdown in the SMU game. TCU’s next scoring drive came in the last minute of the third quarter. Hill handed the ball off to KaVontae Turpin who threw it back to Hill from behind the line of scrimmage. The switcheroo led to Hill’s first career reception and a 48-yard run for a touchdown. Late in the fourth quarter (in the longest drive of the game – 6:57), Hill ran for a touchdown, flew like Superman for a brief moment and planted himself in the endzone. Dubbed “Mr. Everything” by Fox Sports, Hill became the fourth player in Big 12 history, and the second in a conference game, to throw for a score, catch a touchdown pass and rush for a score. He is the first player to accomplish the feat since 2008.

4. Nunez Knows

Adam Nunez used his punting powers for good on Saturday. His long punts and no Mountaineer to catch them meant unfavorable field positions for West Virginia. Oh yeah, Nunez did it four times before the half. The most yards TCU gave WVU on a punt return was six. Nunez’s four punts totaled 187 yards and only allowed the Mountaineers a total of 15 return yards.

5. Leap of Faith

Don’t get distracted, Horned Frog Nation. Let’s take Coach P’s advice and focus our eyes up the mountain while we keep climbing through the middle stretch of the season. But sitting at 5-0, No. 6 in the Associated Press national poll and atop the Big 12, should we dare to believe in magic — not expect it, but be emotionally invested in what dreams may come? Judging by how rollicking Amon G. Carter Stadium was during the fourth quarter on Saturday, the fanbase sounds like it had indeed bought into this team’s potential.

5 Tweets that Told the Tale

The CARTER IS #ROCKING! pic.twitter.com/lojxWGxAzL

— K.Patterson (@kels_patterson) October 7, 2017

Halftime: TCU 7, West Virginia 3. Frogs put out a 131-yard half, have the ball only 12:37, outgained by 105 yards. But up 1-0 in turnovers.

— Carlos A. Mendez (@calexmendez) October 7, 2017

Number 18's out here making plays for @TCUFootball. Nick Orr with the pick and Jalen Reagor with the TD catch on the next play. #GoFrogs

— Geoffrey Craig (@Geoffrey_Craig) October 7, 2017

https://twitter.com/SInow/status/916788441341480960

TCU, welcome to the driver’s seat of the Big 12 title game race. pic.twitter.com/iLZgd8an86

— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) October 7, 2017