Trick plays and missed chances

SAN ANTONIO — Bowls are typically a time for teams to haul trick plays out of their bag. TCU tried a fake punt and a lateral on a kickoff in the first half of Thursday’s Alamo Bowl. Neither worked, but Stanford couldn’t capitalize.

Later, the Horned Frogs tried a wide receiver pass to the quarterback, and that worked like a charm.

They tried a fake punt in the first quarter, but Brandon Simmons tackled TCU punter Adam Nuñez for a 1-yard gain on 4th-and-5.

Despite taking over at the TCU 37, Stanford came up empty when Jet Toner was wide left on a 52-yard field-goal try.

TCU completely botched a trick play on a kickoff in the second quarter. KaVonte Turpin caught the kickoff and tried a long lateral to Jalen Reagor. But Reagor, given plenty of room, somehow fumbled the ball out of bounds without being hit. Even if he had gone the distance, it wouldn’t have counted because Turpin’s lateral was clearly an illegal forward pass. TCU was backed up to its 4-yard line and soon had to punt.

Stanford took over near midfield, but Stanford quarterback K.J. Costello threw the first of his two interceptions.

Missed chances: Costello felt Stanford left too many points on the table.

“There were times when we really snatched the momentum and times when we had the momentum and we let them drive back,” the sophomore said. “Personally, there were a lot of throws I wanted back.”

Costello threw three touchdown passes, but he also had the two picks. In the second quarter he tried to hit Donald Stewart deep, but the overthrown pass was picked in the end zone by safety Nick Orr . In the closing minutes, he threw another to safety Innis Gaines.

Bright’s farewell: Fifth-year senior guard David Bright said he got emotional in the locker room after his final game.

“We could have played better and seized a few more plays,” he said. Bryce Love “is just a warrior. All season he battled through injuries. He wanted to go out and play with us. It’s just special and amazing. We love being able to block for him.”

Briefly: JJ Arcega-Whiteside caught five passes for 61 yards and three touchdowns, and TCU’s Reagor caught five passes for 169 yards. …TCU linebacker Travin Howard, who had a game-high 10 tackles, was named the defensive player of the game. Horned Frogs quarterback Kenny Hill was the offensive player of the game.