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TCU beats Colorado State to clinch share of MWC title

Nov 20, 2011 - 1:44 AM Fort Worth, TX (Sports Network) - Waymon James ran for 108 yards, while Matthew Tucker gained 94 yards and a score on the ground as No. 19 TCU defeated Colorado State, 34-10.

With the win, TCU has clinched at least a share of the Mountain West title, but can win the crown outright for the third consecutive year with a win over UNLV on December 3.

Ed Wesley added 64 yards rushing and a score for the Horned Frogs (9-2, 6-0 MWC), who totaled 255 yards on the ground.

"They kept playing a two-deep shell coverage. If we can, we'll run the ball all the time. They stay over the top in that two-shell and not a lot of people do that. You've got to be able to run the football and at times, we did and at times, we didn't," TCU head coach Gary Patterson said of his running attack.

Casey Pachall was 13-of-20 passing for 117 yards and Tank Carder had a 69- yard interception return for a touchdown in the win.

Garrett Grayson completed 14-of-24 passes for 248 yards, with a touchdown and interception for Colorado State (3-7, 1-4), which lost its sixth straight game.

Instead of attempting a field goal on its opening series from the 23-yard line, Colorado State went for it on 4th-and-2, but Grayson's pass for Charles Lovett was broken up beautifully by Kenny Cain.

The Horned Frogs then moved the ball 71 yards in 14 plays before Ross Evans connected from 21 yards out to give TCU a 3-0 lead with 5:02 remaining in the first quarter.

Chris Nwoki was stripped by Stansly Maponga on the Rams' ensuing possession and Jonat Anderson recovered the ball at the Rams' 32-yard line. Evans connected on a 46-yard field goal to give TCU a 6-0 advantage late in the first quarter.

Antoine Hicks took a power sweep off the left side for a two-yard score to conclude a 12-play, 80-yard march with 4:26 to go until halftime. TCU ran the ball 10 times as five ball carriers combined for 71 yards on the drive.

Grayson completed a 17-yard pass to Byron Steele and then found Lou Greenwood for a 29-yard gain as Colorado State answered with a Chad VanderMolen 24-yard field goal to make it a 13-3 game at the half.

Wesley capped off a nine-play, 88-yard drive with a one-yard score to increase TCU's advantage to 20-3 late in the third quarter. Pachall found Luke Shivers for a 17-yard completion down to the one-yard line on 4th-and-1 to highlight the possession.

Tank Carder intercepted Grayson's pass on the Rams' ensuing series and returned it 69 yards for the score to make it 27-3. Grayson responded, though, as he connected with Raymond Carter for a 66-yard touchdown strike four plays into Colorado State's next possession.

Wesley then fumbled on the first play of the fourth quarter after a 17-yard gallop as Mychal Sisson recovered the ball for the Rams at their own 43-yard line.

But the Rams went three-and-out, and Tucker concluded an eight-play, 78-yard drive with a five-yard TD run to give TCU a comfortable 34-10 margin with 9:56 left.

Game Notes

The Rams outgained TCU 408-372...The Horned Frogs have won 23 straight Mountain West games...Grayson became the nation's 17th true freshman to start a game at quarterback...A victory gave TCU's seniors their 45th win, making them the winningest class in school history.