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Beck, BYU end TCU's 13-game winning streak

Sep 29, 2006 - 1:35 AM FORT WORTH, Texas (Ticker) -- John Beck and BYU began Mountain West Conference play by ending TCU's 13-game winning streak.

Beck threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns as BYU rolled to a convincing 31-17 victory over No. 17 TCU, which saw the nation's longest current run come to a sudden and disappointing stop.

The Cougars (3-2, 1-0 MWC) forced a pair of turnovers and dominated virtually every facet of the game as they avenged last year's heartbreaking 51-50 home loss to TCU and took early control of the conference.

"It's the most significant win I've had since I've been head coach and maybe the best of my career," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "Just in terms of the responsibilities I've been given and the team performing in the mannner (it did) and the circumstances, which can't be understated. I couldn't be more proud of them."

The Horned Frogs (3-1, 0-1) had aspirations of a BCS bowl berth and were tracking a 14th straight win, which would have tied the school record set in 1937-38. Instead, they never got untracked and lost for the first time in the MWC since joining the league before the 2005 season.

"For some reason, this program does not know how to handle success," TCU coach Gary Patterson said. "Last year, we beat an Oklahoma team and came back and lost to SMU. This year, we beat Texas Tech and look what happened tonight. This ballgame was the most important on our schedule up until this point."

Beck completed 23-of-37 passes without an interception, finding three different targets for scores. He was sharp after missing last week's shutout of Utah State with an ankle injury that he appeared to aggravate late in the game.

"He was outstanding," Mendenhall said. "It was a courageous performance and a gutty performance. It's the mark of a leader and a great quarterback."

With Beck's direction, the Cougars established a running game in the first half, then went to the air in the second half, victimizing the defense of the Horned Frogs - which had held high-powered Texas Tech to three points in its last game.

On the first possession of the second half, Beck converted a 3rd-and-10 in stellar fashion by hooking up with Michael Reed on a 40-yard TD pass that gave BYU a 17-3 lead. Reed caught four passes for 69 yards.

"I think five or six times, we had them third-and-long and we let them out in the second half," Patterson said.

TCU finally found the end zone as Jeff Ballard directed a drive that he capped with a two-yard scoring toss to Brent Hecht.

After an exchange of possessions, Beck capped a 68-yard march with a 25-yard TD pass to Matt Allen for a 24-10 advantage with 12:33 to play.

Just over five minutes later, Beck threw a four-yard TD pass to Jonny Harline, who made a one-handed catch while warding off a defender.

"Our freshman corners caught up with us a little bit tonight," Patterson said.

The Horned Frogs erased a 21-point deficit in last year's win but made no miracle comeback in this contest. An interception by BYU's Cameron Jensen sealed matters, and Aaron Brown's seven-yard scoring jaunt was simply window dressing.

"We didn't feel TCU could execute long enough, consistent enough and be patient enough," Mendenhall said. "That last drive when they scored seven points took up a lot of time and that's what we asked the players to do."

Curtis Brown had 56 yards on 16 carries and 58 yards on five catches for the Cougars, who were outgained, 437-393, despite putting together five scoring drives of at least 59 yards.

Losing for the first time as a starter, Ballard was 26-of-49 for 296 yards and an interception, finding Donald Massey eight times for 85 yards. Ballard also had 12 carries for 63 yards.

BYU put together two long drives in the first half - a 15-play, 76-yarder leading to Jared McLaughlin's 21-yard field goal and an 11-play, 82-yard march that culminated in Manase Tonga's eight-yard run.

In between, Ballard moved the Horned Frogs into the red zone but was sacked by David Nixon and fumbled. Matangi Tonga recovered at the BYU 18.

TCU finally got on the board on Chris Manfredini's 36-yard kick just before halftime.