TCU vs. West Virginia: Horned Frogs pull out victory in second half shootout

E.Jay Zarett

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TCU vs. West Virginia: Horned Frogs pull out victory in second half shootout image

Quarterback Kenny Hill registered three total touchdowns to lead No. 8 TCU passed No. 23 West Virginia on Saturday afternoon.

Hill threw for a 45-yard touchdown early in the second half and was on the receiving end of a 48-yard score five minutes later. Then, with the score tied at 24-24 and 2:53 remaining, Hill ran into the end zone from 3-yards out to give the Horned Frogs a 31-24 victory. Kyle Hicks added 71 rushing yards on just 11 carries for TCU. 

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West Virginia quarterback Will Grier threw for 366 yards and three touchdowns, while Justin Crawford tallied 111 yards on the ground in the losing effort.

Sporting News provided live updates throughout Saturday night’s game. Here’s how TCU came away with the home victory (all times Eastern):

Final Score: TCU 31, West Virginia 24

7 p.m.: It’s gone final in Fort Worth. TCU picks up one first down and then takes a knee to run out the clock.

6:57 p.m.: WVU fails to convert and TCU takes over. Grier attempts to find White near the first-down marker, but cornerback Ranthony Texada breaks up the play. TCU takes the field with just over a minute to go, leading by a touchdown. 

6:55 p.m.: After an offensive pass interference penalty, West Virginia faced a third-and-18. On the play, TCU forced Grier out of the pocket and he threw the ball away. WVU will go for it with 1:20 left trailing by a touchdown, needing 18-yards to keep its offense on the field. 

6:53 p.m.: On fourth down, Grier connects with Sills for a 10-yard gain to move the chains and keep WVU on the field.

6:52 p.m.: Grier throws an incomplete pass on third-and-5 with 2:12 remaining. WVU is staying on the field and going for it on fourth down.

6:46 p.m.: Touchdown TCU. On a third-and-goal from the WVU 3, Kenny Hill takes the snap, runs to his left, avoids a tackler and dives into the end zone to put TCU back in front 31-24 with 2:53 remaining.

6:43 p.m.: TCU takes a timeout with 3:51 to go. The Horned Frogs will face a second-and-goal from the WVU 4 when play resumes. 

6:38 p.m.: Kenny Hill takes a deep shot down the field and his pass appears to be intercepted. But, following a replay review, the defender was out of bounds when he hauled in the pick and TCU’s drive continues on the WVU 36. 

6:36 p.m.: On the fourth down play, TCU runs a reverse. Jalen Reagor winds up with the football and he gains 7 yards to move the chains and continue TCU’s drive. 

6:35 p.m.: TCU hands if off to Darius Anderson on a third-and-1 near midfield. But, Anderson is brought down at the line of scrimmage and TCU will go for it on fourth down. 

6:27 p.m.: Touchdown West Virginia. Grier finds David Sills in the end zone for a 4-yard score and we’re knotted up at 24-24 with 9:50 to go. Sills has registered 106 yards and two touchdowns in the game. 

6:26 p.m.: West Virginia converts again, this time on fourth down. Grier finds Ka'Raun White for an 11-yard catch to move the chains again. 

6:23 p.m.: Facing a third-and-8, Grier completes a pass to David Sills well short of the line of scrimmage. But, Sills breaks a tackle, gets to the sideline and runs for nine yards and the first down. 

6:21 p.m.: West Virginia forces TCU into a three-and-out and the Mountaineers will have a chance to tie the score. They have the ball at the 50 with 12:57 left trailing by a touchdown. 

6:18 p.m.: West Virginia advances near midfield but can’t move the chains again. TCU gets the ball back on its own 12 with a chance to increase its lead. 

End of third quarter: TCU 24, West Virginia 17

6:06 p.m.: Touchdown TCU. The Horned Frogs swing the scoreboard back into their favor with a trick play. On a second-and-8 near midfield, Hill hands it off to KaVontae Turpin on a sweep. Turpin carries the ball across to the opposite sideline and throws the ball back to Hill, who runs up field, breaks a tackle and carries it in for a 48-yard score. 

6:02 p.m.: Touchdown West Virginia. The Mountaineers tie the score at 17-17 two plays into their drive.  After a 1-yard run by Justin Crawford on first down, Grier finds a streaking Ka'Raun White for a 76-yard touchdown reception. Grier now has 315 passing yards and two touchdowns.

6 p.m.: TCU moves the chains on a Hill completion to Jaelan Austin, but the Horned Frogs fail to pick up another first down. West Virginia takes over on its own 23 with a chance to tie the score. 

5:52 p.m.: Touchdown West Virginia. The Mountaineers answer TCU’s score with one of their own. Grier connects with David Sills down the middle of the field, who takes it in for a 64-yard touchdown. West Virginia now trails 17-10 with 3:52 left in the third quarter. The catch was Sills eighth touchdown of the season. 

5:42 p.m.: Touchdown TCU. It takes the Horned Frogs just one play to convert West Virginia’s turnover into seven points. Kenny Hill finds Jalen Reagor down the sideline for a 45-yard score to put TCU ahead, 17-3.

5:40 p.m.: Turnover West Virginia. After the Mountaineers move to midfield, Grier overthrows his intended receiver. The ball falls directly into the hands of TCU safety Nick Orr, who returns the interception to the WVU 45. 

5:34 p.m.: Field goal TCU. The Horned Frogs lead grows to 10-3 off a 37-yard field goal by Jonathan Song with 8:36 left in the third quarter. Kyle Hicks registered a 27-yard run and Hill completed a 20-yard pass to John Diarse on the drive. 

5:26 p.m.: Grier appears to complete a deep ball down the sideline that would have moved WVU into TCU territory. But receiver Marcus Simms fails to come down with the football and the Mountaineers punt on their opening drive. 

5:22 p.m.: We’re back for the start of the second half. West Virginia receives the opening kick-off and will start its drive at the 18.  

Halftime: TCU 7, West Virginia 3 

5:06 p.m.: TCU holds a four-point lead heading into halftime as both teams have struggled to find any momentum offensively. Justin Crawford has rushed for 66 yards on 10 carries to lead West Virginia, while Will Grier has thrown for 142 yards. TCU has registered just 131 yards of total offense so far.  

5:01 p.m.: Grier completes four passes and pushes West Virginia to the TCU 42. But he takes a huge hit and is sacked for an 8-yard loss and follows with two incompletions as WVU again punts it away. The Horned Frogs will start the half’s last possession at their own 18. 

4:50 p.m.: TCU moves to midfield, but fails to move the chains after a false start penalty and the Horned Frogs punt it back to WVU. The teams have combined for seven punts and just 10 points so far. 

4:46 p.m.: Facing a third-and-18 on its own 9, West Virginia nearly picks up a first down. Will Grier completes a pass to David Sills, who turns up field and gains 15 yards. But, he doesn’t reach the marker and WVU punts it away. 

4:40 p.m.: TCU’s drive stalls near midfield after Kenny Hill underthrows his intended receiver on third down. The Horned Frogs are forced to punt for the fourth time, but again pin West Virginia deep in its own territory. 

4:33 p.m.: The Mountaineers settle for zero points after marching down the field. WVU moved to the TCU 12. But Will Grier overthrows a wide open David Sills on third down and Mike Molina follows by missing a 29-yard field goal. TCU still holds a 7-3 advantage. 

4:24 p.m.: Touchdown TCU. The Horned Frogs capitalize on West Virginia’s mistake and turns it into seven points. On third-and-goal, Sewo Olonilua takes a handoff, jumps over a pile and lands in the end zone to put TCU ahead 7-3. 

End of first quarter: West Virginia 3, TCU 0

4:15 p.m.: But TCU gets it right back. West Virginia’s Marcus Simms blocks a defender into his own returner, the ball hits off Simms arm and the Horned Frogs recover the loose ball. They’ll start their drive at the WVU 32. 

4:13 p.m.: The Horned Frogs register a quick three-and-out which took just 56 seconds off the game clock. The teams have combined to go three-for-11 on pass attempts for just 26 yards.  

4:09 p.m.: The Mountaineers drive stalls at their own 39 and they punt it back to TCU with 3:19 left in the first quarter. 

4:06 p.m.: West Virginia has snapped the ball 17 times so far on offense. Thirteen have been rush attempts.  

4:01 p.m.: Kyle Hicks runs for 17-yards and picks up a first down for TCU, but it fails to move the chains again. West Virginia’s offense will start its drive deep in its own territory following the punt. 

3:52 p.m.: Field goal West Virginia. The Mountaineers get on the board first and take a 3-0 lead. WVU advanced to the TCU 15, but was called for a holding penalty. After two short runs and an incomplete pass, kicker Mike Molina converts on a 37-yard attempt. 

3:48 p.m.: West Virginia advances to the TCU 36, where it faced a fourth-and-1. On the play, Will Grier hands it off to Justin Crawford, who picks up the first down. 

3:43 p.m.: After a 41-yard kickoff return by KaVontae Turpin, TCU completes a short pass and runs the ball twice, but fails to pick up a first down. West Virginia’s offense is set to take the field for the first time today. 

3:40 p.m.: Here we go. West Virginia wins the toss and defers. TCU will have the first possession. 

3:32 p.m.: Kickoff will be at 3:40 p.m. 

3:31 p.m.: We’re minutes away from kickoff between West Virginia and TCU. 

3:16 p.m.: Here’s a look at the uniforms TCU will wear today: 

E.Jay Zarett