Ehlinger throws 4 INTs, Horned Frogs down Longhorns 37-27

FORT WORTH, Tx — The Texas Longhorns (5-3, 3-2) left Austin seeking their first win at Amon G. Carter since the 2013 season. They left Fort Worth still in search of that win, as the TCU Horned Frogs (4-3, 2-2) and quarterback Max Duggan racked up 435 yards of offense en route to a 37-27 victory.  TCU had lost three of its last four games prior to its matchup against Texas, but Gary Patterson’s team has new life inside and outside the conference after the win over the Longhorns.

Texas Quarterback Sam Ehlinger threw four interceptions and finished the day with two touchdown passes and 321 yards.  Despite the tough day on the field, Ehlinger continued his surge on the Texas record books, surpassing Vince Young for the second-most total touchdowns in school history (82).

Senior wide receiver Devin Duvernay led all receivers, catching eight passes for 173 yards and a touchdown. Sophmore tailback Keaontay Ingram led the Longhorns on the ground with 74 yards on 16 carries.

GAME SUMMARY

Todd Orlando’s defense held the Horned Frogs to three and out on the game’s opening drive, while the Longhorns scored on their first possession of the game courtesy of Cameron Dicker’s 21-yard field goal.

On TCU’s next possession, quarterback Max Duggan was intercepted by Brandon Jones, giving the Longhorns the ball back at their own 27-yard line.  An illegal block by Tyler Owens backed up Texas to the 12-yard line. After a pair of rushes and an incomplete pass, Sam Ehlinger was intercepted by Garrett Wallow. Wallow returned it to the Texas 20-yard line to set up Jonathan Song’s 32-yard field goal, TCU’s first points on the day.

The Horned Frogs struck first in the second half with Max Duggan finding Pro Wells in the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown reception.

Texas answered, manufacturing a 4-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Devin Duvernay’s catch and run for a 47-yard score.

At the 10:57 mark in the second quarter, Texas and TCU were tied 10-10.

The Longhorns added another touchdown with 1:11 remaining in the quarter, as Sam Ehlinger found a blown-coverage, wide-open Keaontay Ingram on a wheel route. Ingram waltzed into the end zone untouched, giving Texas a 17-10 lead.

Max Duggan completed six passes within 1:04 to setup a 52-yard Griffin Kell field goal attempt. Kell’s field goal split the uprights as time expired to trim the Texas lead over TCU to 17-13.

The Longhorns prolonged their opening drive of the second half with Ryan Bujevski’s fake punt on 4th & 1, but ended up punting after a subsequent three and out.

After missing his previous attempt from 26 yards, Cameron Dicker’s 38 yard field goal at the 7:46 mark in the third quarter extended the Longhorns’ lead over the Horned Frogs 20-13.

TCU scored the next 14 points in under two and a half minutes.  Taye Barber hauled in a 51-yard pass from Max Duggan to the Texas 4-yard line. Sewo Olonilua punched it in from a yard out two plays later to tie the score at 20-20.  Sam Ehlinger was intercepted for the second time on the Longhorns’ next possession by TCU safety Ar’Darius Washington.  Duggan wasted no time again, throwing a 44-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Reagor to give TCU a 27-20 lead.

Ehlinger’s third interception of the game came in the closing seconds of the third quarter by Trevon Moehrig. TCU capitalized on Moehrig’s INT, finishing a 6 play, 20-yard drive with Jonathan Song’s second FG of the game (32-yards).

With 11:28 remaining in the game, TCU led Texas 30-20.

On the next possession, Collin Johnson caught a 12-yard pass on 3rd & 10 at the Texas 25-yard line to keep the chains moving. Following two Sam Ehlinger rushes for 26 yards and a couple of short passes, Roschon Johnson found the end zone from 2-yards out.  Texas cut the TCU lead to 30-27.

The nail in the coffin for Texas came at the 2:00 minute mark on Max Duggan’s 11-yard scamper for a score to put the score at 37-27 in favor of TCU.

Texas couldn’t answer this time, and Sam Ehlinger threw his fourth interception of the game to end Texas’ final possession.

With the loss the Longhorns fall to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in Big 12 play.

Texas has a bye week next weekend and will return to play on November 9th as they host the Kansas State Wildcats.