Defense, blocked punt bails out struggling offense
Frog defense had nine sacks and allowed 115 total yards in a key conference victory.
By Danny Gillham
Sports Editor

The gametime temperature for Saturday’s game was 85 degrees, making the weather the warmest it had been in days.

It was in sharp contrast to the frigid output of the TCU offense.

Despite gaining 264 yards rushing, the Frogs (8-1, 5-1 Conference USA) could not produce an offensive touchdown, and senior quarterback Sean Stilley was erratic in his return to the starting lineup.

However, a strong outing by the defense and a special teams touchdown help put the Frogs just two wins away from a conference title, and in the top 25 polls for the first time in two seasons.

Stilley finished the game 11-of-26 for 96 yards and one interception, overthrowing receivers and showing the rust that came with not playing in a complete game since Sept. 14 against SMU.

“I’m not going to use that I haven’t played as a crutch,” Stilley said. “I will get better, and I know I’m capable of playing a great game and leading this team to victory.”

With the offense struggling to put points on the board, the TCU defense held the normally high-octane Tulane offense in check all afternoon.

The Frogs compiled nine sacks against the Green Wave, their highest total of the season. Tulane running back Mewelde Moore was held to 15 yards on 10 carries, as the Frogs submitted just 115 total yards to the Green Wave attack.

Head coach Gary Patterson said his team’s defensive performance might arguably be the best he’s seen in his five years at TCU.

“We’ve had some great defensive outings at this school, but I would say I don’t know if there has (ever) been any that has been as good against this kind of offense,” Patterson said.

The defense, now No. 2 in the nation, was led once again by senior linebacker LaMarcus McDonald, who had four sacks and finished the game with five tackles for losses.

Patterson had high praise for McDonald and words for the committee of the Butkus Award, given to the linebacker voted the best in the country.

McDonald was not named a semi-finalist for the award.

“What else can you say about (LaMarcus)?” Patterson said. “Those people out there that took him off the Butkus Award, don’t ever watch college football. If there is anybody in this country that is better than he is, I’d like to see them.”

With both offenses in a stalemate, the key moment of the game came with the third quarter winding down.

Tulane punter Seth Marler was facing a fourth-and-25 punting situation in his own end zone. Redshirt freshman Zack Moore was able to get his hands on the punt, and sophomore Cody McCarty fell on the ball to give the Frogs a 15-3 lead. It would become 17-3 after the two-point conversion.

The team’s 14 point lead quickly became seven when Derrick Joseph found Moore for a 47-yard touchdown pass in the last minute of the third quarter.

The Frogs were able to withstand a flurry of Tulane attempts late in the game, and when Joseph’s last-ditch pass for a touchdown flew out of the end zone with 1:14 left, the team secured a 17-10 win.

Senior cornerback Jason Goss said this win made up for the team’s 48-22 embarrassing loss to Tulane in 2001.

“I’m sure everybody, deep down inside, wants them because they basically killed us last year,” Goss said.

The team will now have a week off from games before heading to East Carolina for a Nov. 23 matchup. The Frogs control their own destiny, and if they win out, will be punching its ticket to Memphis for New Year’s Eve.

Danny Gillham