FORT WORTH, Texas – In a matchup with the Arizona, Josh Hoover completed 21 of his 31 passes for 252 passing yards and the game of one passing touchdown while J.P. Richardson had 149 total yards from scrimmage and a 38-yard touchdown reception to help TCU defeat Arizona 49-28 on saturday.
Wildcats’ quarterback, Noah Fifita threw an interception to Bud Clark on the first play from the scrimmage and TCU scored five plays later with Trent Battle’s four-yard touchdown.
TCU’s offense scored touchdowns on its final five possessions and was successful on nine-plus plays and 75+ yards on three of the five.
TCU (7-4, 5-3 Big 12) drove 75 yards in 12 plays in the final 1:20 of the first half to lead 21-13 on Savion Williams’ 20 yards run after extra point attempt was no good. Starting from the 50-yard line, Hoover, who played at Arizona State University, had thrown for five first downs, with pass receptions of 24 yards, 19 yards and 24 yards respectively for Williams to score the final play only 20 seconds before the end of the half.
They opened the second-half kickoff and proceeded to score a 76 yard, nine play drive to extend their lead to 28-13 with Battle scoring a one-yard run.
”We had two series where it didn’t look very good, but the last drive of the first half and the second half were probably the two biggest drives of the game,” TCU coach Sonny Dykes said.
After just three possessions, Richardson’s 33-yard punt return to the Arizona 34 position another third touchdown. He pumped a short pass over the middle from Hoover and outran everybody for 38 yards to the house and a 35-13 lead. Richardson caught six passes for 107 yards from whom TCU received its main attacking force.
Four TCU running backs scored a touchdown; Williams rushed for 80 and took the two scores. Battle also ran for 28 yards and two touchdowns in the final contest.
Fifita completed 29 of 44 passes for 284 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for the Arizona (4-7, 2-6). Tetairoa McMillan received eight passes for 115 yards in the game.
“Everyone is disappointed. It is not easy when you go through a season like this,” said Arizona coach Brent Brennan. On all fronts, it is very difficult.” I love these players.”
After a TCU backup quarterback Ken Seals lost the ball, Arizona defensive lineman Sterling Lane II quickly scooped it up and returned it to the end zone with 1:09 left in the game.
Clark, who has had three interceptions in the season, including ones in the last two TCU games, leads the Horned Frogs. They connect him for fifth-most in the Big 12.
McMillan surpassed all others to become Arizona’s leading all-time career receiver, surpassing even wide receivers coach Bobby Wade. McMillan had nine receptions for the game high which was 115 yards. He caught seventy-eight balls for 1, 251 yards this season and two hundred and seven balls for 3, 355 yards in his whole lifetime. Wade ended his four-year stint with 3,351 passing yards in the year 2002.
Arizona: The Wildcats who began this season in the AP Top 25 poll will not be bowl eligible this season with a game left for Brennan. Last season under former head coach Jedd Fisch, who is now at Washington, Arizona reached the Alamo Bowl for the first time since 2017.
TCU: The Horned Frogs elated in their third straijkt at the Amun Carter Stadium after falling twice to UCF and Houston to become bowl-eligible only two weeks ago. TCU has won four of its last five, the only loss of which was 37-34 to Baylor last year.
TCU: At Cincinnati on Saturday.
Arizona: Playing their third game in a week, hosts Arizona State on Saturday.
