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TCU defense dominates, blanks Baylor

Sep 2, 2007 - 5:27 AM FORT WORTH, Texas (Ticker) -- Texas Christian did not appear to miss Tommy Blake.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Andy Dalton was solid in his first start and received help from a defense that intercepted four passes as TCU dominated Baylor, 27-0, on Saturday in its season opener.

TCU (1-0) was without star defensive end Blake, who did not receive medical clearance to play, but it did not seem to matter as it cruised to its ninth consecutive win.

"I was proud of them, having a defense shut out a Big 12 team," TCU coach Gary Patterson said. "There's no reason to get excited about it, that was just one (game)."

Dalton completed 19-of-31 passes for 215 yards and a score with no interceptions. His 14-yard touchdown connection with Ervin Dickerson sealed the victory and gave the Horned Frogs a 24-0 advantage with 12:30 left to play.

"I was very happy with Dalton," Patterson said. "I can say something positive about every player on offense."

"There's definitely room for improvement," Dalton said. "I thought the offense as a whole moved the ball pretty well."

Steven Coleman, Jason Phillips, Nick Sanders and Robert Henson all collected interceptions for the TCU defense, which surrendered just 280 yards.

"Athletes make plays, and for us to be able to do that without him shows that when Tommy comes back, we'll be just that much better," Phillips said. "He is a big factor in the way we play, so when we get him back it'll improve that much for us."

Justin Watts provided TCU with all the offense it would need when he plowed into the end zone from a yard out to take a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.

After Bart Johnson returned a punt for 64 yards, Ryan Christian followed with a 12-yard rushing TD on the first play of the drive as the Horned Frogs took a 14-0 lead into the break.

Blake Szymanski passed for 217 yards but was picked off three times for Baylor (0-1), which lost its fifth straight contest.

The Bears had solid scoring chances throughout the game, but kicker Shea Brewster missed field goal attempts of 17 and 32 yards.

It was the second consecutive year that TCU opened its season with a victory over Baylor, and it evens the teams' all-time series history at 49-49-7.