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TCU routs New Mexico to complete perfect regular season

Nov 28, 2010 - 6:59 AM Albuquerque, NM (Sports Network) - Andy Dalton threw three touchdown passes and fourth-ranked TCU got another five scores on the ground to take a 66-17 win over New Mexico and clinch the Mountain West Conference title outright.

Dalton completed 9-of-14 passes for 156 yards while Luke Shivers had two rushing touchdowns. Matthew Tucker, Aundre Dean and Casey Pachall each scored once on the ground for the Horned Frogs (12-0, 8-0 MWC), who won the conference for the second straight year and third time in the past six seasons.

Jimmy Young, Waymon James, Antoine Hicks and Logan Brock each caught a score as TCU completed a perfect regular season for the second straight year.

Stump Godfrey ran for two scores and went 7-for-14 passing for just 21 yards with an interception for the Lobos (1-11, 1-7), who dropped their final three games of their season.

"We did great, we kept fighting," said Godfrey. "We gave ourselves a chance to stay in the game. We have a far way to go. Our team is doing a great job."

The Horned Frogs needed just four plays on the opening drive to take the lead as Dalton hit Hicks on a 14-yard score for a 7-0 lead just over a minute in.

Following a three-and-out from the Lobos, Dalton and James got together on a 38-yard score for a 14-0 lead with 9 1/2 minutes to play in the first.

TCU's third possession saw the team score for a third time when Dalton and Young connected for a 45-yard score and a 21-0 lead with 6 1/2 minutes left in the opening session.

A fumble from Hicks gave New Mexico the ball at the TCU 12 and the team took advantage with a one-yard run into the end zone by Godfrey to make it a 21-7 game with 3:20 left in the first.

The Horned Frogs got a 19-yard field goal from Ross Evans on the final play of the first quarter for a 24-7 advantage.

Godfrey fumbled on the first play of New Mexico's ensuing possession and a two-yard run into the end zone by Shivers gave TCU a 31-7 lead early in the second.

New Mexico kept in the game with a 27-yard field goal from James Aho and another one-yard touchdown run from Godfrey that was setup by a Dalton fumble. The touchdown came with just over nine minutes to play in the half and the teams went into the locker room at 31-17.

A Godfrey fumble near midfield was picked up by TCU and Josh Boyce's 28-yard catch setup an eight-yard run into the end zone by Pachall for a 38-17 lead with 8:05 left in the third.

After a three-and-out from New Mexico, Pachall tossed a 21-yard score to Brock and an interception of Godfrey was turned into a one-yard touchdown run by Shivers for a 52-17 lead.

Tucker's one-yard touchdown run and a five-yard scamper into the end zone by Dean in the fourth completed the scoring in the game.

"I'm disappointed with today's outcome," New Mexico head coach Michael Locksley said. "We didn't execute on offense, special teams or defense, and I'm responsible as head coach."

Game Notes

Dalton, who left with a minor elbow injury, became TCU's career passing leader with 10,095 yards and is now the MWC leader in total offense with 11,678 yards...TCU has taken nine of the previous 12 meetings between the two teams...Tucker had 53 yards on nine carries while Ed Wesley had 77 yards on 11 carries for the Horned Frogs...New Mexico managed just 130 yards of offense while TCU racked up 503 yards.