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Utah rallies to stun TCU

Nov 7, 2008 - 6:55 AM SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) -- They busted each other up in an attempt to bust each other's BCS dreams.

Brian Johnson hit Freddie Brown with a 9-yard touchdown pass with 47 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to lift undefeated Utah to a 13-10 victory over TCU on Thursday in a Mountain West game with major national implications.

"Brian Johnson, wow," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "He got us in the end zone when we needed it - again."

The coach also heaped praise on the person who caught the winning pass.

"Freddie Brown has done that for us all year long," Whittingham said. "He's a guy that's really come into his own as a receiver. He was very quiet his first three years. But, this year, the light has switched on."

The 11th-ranked Horned Frogs had a chance to go up by a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but freshman kicker Ross Evans hit the left goalpost with a 26-yard field-goal attempt with 5:49 left in the game.

After a three-and-out by ninth-ranked Utah (10-0, 6-0), TCU took over and moved downfield again, devouring what was left of the game clock. Evans came out onto the field and missed again, this time from 36 yards.

"We had an opportunity to be up 16-10 (actually 16-6) with those two field goals," TCU coach Gary Patterson said.

Johnson found Brent Casteel for significant yardage and then TCU (9-2, 6-1) was flagged for pass interference as Utah marched toward a potential winning score.

After misfiring to a wide-open Casteel on a corner route with 90 seconds left, Johnson then calmly found Brown for a first down at the 15.

Johnson completed a short pass and found Brown for the touchdown on a quick slant for the game-winning score. Johnson was 7-of-9 on the 80-yard drive.

"Brian actually threw it before I made my break," Brown said. "But it was right on the numbers, so I just wanted to make sure I caught it. ... He's a great quarterback."

Johnson liked the cool that the Utes showed.

"There was no panic when we got the ball back," Johnson said. "I just told the guys, 'Stay in it and we'll have a chance to win this thing at the end.' There was unbelievable poise and concentration to finish off that drive."

Brown had nine catches for 105 yards, while Johnson finished 24-of-39 for 230 yards and the touchdown.

Aaron Brown had 15 carries for 106 yards for TCU. Quarterback Andy Dalton was 16-of-37 for 251 yards and two interceptions.

The third quarter continued the defensive battle with neither team scoring. TCU was in field-goal range but a sack ended that hope. The Utes were moving as the quarter ended as hard hitting dominated.

TCU held a 291-211 advantage in total offense, but committed 10 penalties for 55 yards through 45 minutes.

The Horned Frogs surged to a 10-0 lead in the first nine minutes of the game.

Evans kicked a 37-yard field goal to cap an eight-play, 64-yard drive.

Ryan Christian then scored on a 3-yard run to bump the lead to double digits.

"I'll remember this football game for a long time," Patterson said. "Utah made plays in the final four minutes, and we didn't."