Frogs feeling a little lucky
Deflected pass in the fourth quarter for a TD keeps TCU unbeaten.
Trevone Boykin
LUBBOCK — skipped the technical jargon when asked about the name of the play that kept TCU’s hopes and dreams alive.
“Pray. Pray,” the senior quarterback said after a 55-52 escape Saturday at Texas Tech for the nation’s then-thirdranked team. “Sometimes you just need a little luck in this game.”
And special seasons sometimes need special plays, which is exactly what TCU got on fourth down against Tech from the 4-yard line. Boykin’s pass deflected off the hand of Josh Doctson — just about the only thing he didn’t catch — and directly to running back Aaron Green deep in the end zone with 23 seconds remaining. He came down with one foot inbounds, and the call stood on replay review.
“I thought it was over because it got tipped almost to the back of the end zone,” Boykin said.
Doctson, who finished with 18 catches for a school-record 267 yards and three touchdowns, thought it was over. He realized he was the only TCU receiver who was supposed to be in the area.
“Then I saw a flash of white jersey come through and grab the ball,” Boykin said.
Green said he was only doing exactly what his coaches tell him.
“They always preach follow the ball. You never know,” Green said. “I did what I was told. I followed the ball the whole way and caught it.”
Players said there was no panic as TCU (4-0, 1-0) started its final drive from its own 47 with three minutes remaining.
Green, who ran for 162 yards and two rushing touchdowns, saw reasons for assurance.
“It was very calm. We have the best player in college football in the huddle,” Green said, referring to Boykin, “and the best receiver (Doctson) in college football in the huddle. Not much could go wrong.”
TCU still had to survive a helter-skelter final Tech play from midfield after a roughing-the-passer penalty. A Patrick Mahomes-to-DeAndre Washington completion led to three laterals before Jakeem Grant was finally corralled at the TCU 10-yard line.
“When I saw the offensive lineman (La’Raven Clark) get it, I was like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’ ” coach Gary Patterson said. “And then he flips it to No. 11 (Grant) and you can’t hardly tackle him in a phone booth.”
Tech (3-1, 0-1) wasn’t into moral victories afterward.
“I think we have a long way to go,” Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury said.
Patterson praised the perseverance of his unit, which lost its eighth defensive starter this year when Torrance Mosley turned an ankle in practice last week.
Doctson had to step up with Kolby Listenbee sidelined with an undisclosed injury. Then TCU lost receivers Ty Slanina and Emanuel Porter during the game, Slanina apparently for the season.
Then there was Boykin, who threw for 485 yards and four touchdowns. For now, that closing drive stands as an early season Heisman moment.
“I got to give this group credit,” Patterson said. “They keep finding a way to win — because most people would say you’re not supposed to.”