Sep 14 | Football
Fort Worth, Texas -- Sean Stilley tossed a pair of second half touchdown passes to LaTarence Dunbar after a scoreless first half as TCU posted a 17-6 victory over SMU in its home opener on Saturday before 30,621 at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
"It is frustrating," said SMU head coach Phil Bennett. "We had opportunities to win the game but could could not convert. It is the second straight we have been right there but not get over the hump. That has got to change."
The game was a defensive battle for the most part that turned TCU?s way with a pair of big plays in the passing game and the help of a Mustang turnover.
The teams combined for 13 first half possessions with 12 ending in punts and other coming to close the half.
TCU grabbed a 3-0 lead on Nick Browne?s 48-yard field goal with 10:10 remaining in the third period. The score was set up by Stilley?s 31-yard completion to Adrian Madise.
Later in the period, the Horned Frogs recovered a John Hampton fumble on the SMU 31-yard line. On third-and-seven from the 28, Stilley hit Dunbar for a TD and a 10-0 lead with 32 seconds remaining.
TCU took a 17-0 early in the fourth when Stilley and Dunbar hooked up for a 64-yard TD with 11:43 remaining.
SMU cut the deficit to 17-6 on Keylon Kincade?s one-yard TD run with 7:30 to go. SMU drove into TCU territory on its next possession but Tate Wallis threw an interception in the end zone to seal the Mustangs? fate.
Kincade rushed for 127 yards on 36 carries, his third straight game over 100 yards. Wallis completed just 9-of-21 passes for 101 yards with an interception for SMU.
