TCU 24 - 16 22Southern Methodist
Final
  for this game

Defense leads No. 15 TCU past SMU

Sep 30, 2012 - 3:50 AM Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Casey Pachall tossed a pair of touchdown passes and Matthew Tucker rushed for 56 yards and a score as No. 15 TCU overcame heavy rain and held off SMU, 24-16, on Saturday.

Pachall completed just 10-of-26 passes for 107 yards, but the Horned Frogs (4-0) picked off Mustangs quarterback Garrett Gilbert five times to help TCU pick up its 12th consecutive win.

Gilbert was just 15-of-40 passing for 190 yards and a touchdown and Zach Line added a rushing touchdown for SMU (1-3), which will open Conference USA play next week against UTEP.

After failing to pick up a first down on 3rd-and-4 late in the fourth quarter, the Horned Frogs lined up to punt, but Ethan Perry bobbled the snap and was tackled for a 22-yard loss.

The Mustangs took over on TCU's 35 and needed just two plays to pull within 24-16 on Gilbert's 29-yard touchdown pass to Der'rikk Thompson. Chase Hover missed the extra point.

TCU failed to convert a 4th-and-3 opportunity and gave the ball back to SMU, but Gilbert was picked off with 28 seconds left, and the Horned Frogs held on for the win.

Pachall connected with LaDarius Brown for a 10-yard score to give TCU a 7-0 lead. Line had fumbled on the Frogs' 48, setting Pachall and the offense up with excellent field position.

Gilbert's pass on the ensuing drive was intercepted by Elisha Olabode and returned 51 yards to the SMU 8. Two plays later, Pachall found Tucker in the end zone to go up 14-0.

The Mustangs finally got on the board after Line broke off a 21-yard TD run, capping a 10-play, 81-yard drive.

Skye Dawson returned a punt 64-yards to the Mustangs' 4, and Tucker punched it in to put TCU up 21-7.

Hover's 29-yarder made it 21-10.

Jadon Oberkrom split the uprights from 43 yards out to put TCU up 24-10 in the fourth.

Game Notes

TCU's winning streak is the longest active streak in FBS. The Horned Frogs' last loss was a 40-33 overtime loss to SMU last season ... SMU is 0-3 against FBS teams this season ... TCU's defense forced six turnovers.






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