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The Good
Trevone Boykin gets offensive MVP of the game from me, after completing 70% of his passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns, with a rushing touchdown to boot. He looked more comfortable than he has in the past two years (less the Baylor game from 2012), and he looked like a real leader out on the field. Not to mention, this offense suits him well, as it allows him to get the ball out quickly. That's not to say he was perfect though, but we'll get to that in a moment.
Defensive MVP is Mike Tuaua, who recorded seven tackles, including 3.5 for loss and two sack-fumbles. He was everywhere, and took full advantage of the first-time starter at Left Tackle for Samford.
The Bad
Boykin's accuracy, while much improved, was still shaky. Sure, he completed 70% of his passes, but there were the typical overthrows, and the lacking of touch on a few throws. Bigger than that though, it looked like he was still staring down receivers, which he won't get away with in Big 12 play, and even against a team like Minnesota.
The defense, genarally looked great, but they really struggled when Samford QB Michael Eubank wanted to run. Eubank ended up with 46 yards rushing, which is more impressive when you consider that rushing total is after you add -16 yards thanks to the two sacks from Tuaua. TCU needs to figure that out before they get into conference play and face off against mobile QBs like Bryce Petty, J.W. Walsh and Trevor Knight.
Also, I need to make a correction. The other day I commented on how Echols-Luper dropped a pass as he went into the endzone, but it was actually Aaron Green.
The Potential
The biggest takeaway from this game for me was the potential for this offense. They moved quickly when they wanted to, visibly frustrating Samford, who struggled to get the defensive play call in. The offense also was on the field for a substantial amount of time, keeping the defense fresh and ready to roll when they were in the game.
Big Prediction: Ranthony Texada is going to be an All-Big 12 player by the end of the season. The kid was lockdown, and should have had his first collegiate interception, before the ball wound up in Paul Dawson's hands.
STAT DUMP
Team Notes
*TCU opened at home for just the fourth time in Gary Patterson's 14 seasons as head coach.
*TCU improved to 10-4 in season openers under Patterson and 70-39-9 in its history.
*The Horned Frogs won their home opener for the 13th consecutive season. TCU is 13-1 overall in home openers under Patterson.
*TCU is now 62-14 at Amon G. Carter Stadium with Patterson as head coach.
*The Horned Frogs improved to 88-3 under Patterson when allowing 17 points or less.
*Defensive end Josh Carraway, right guard Brady Foltz, wide receiver Kolby Listenbee and cornerback Ranthony Texadamade their first career starts.
*Six true freshmen saw action for the Horned Frogs: defensive tackle Chris Bradley, safety Travin Howard, cornerbackNick Orr, wide receiver Emmanuel Porter, center Austin Schlottman and wide receiver Desmon White.
*TCU's team captains were Trevone Boykin, Sam Carter, Joey Hunt and Davion Pierson.
*TCU wore a new white helmet to go with a purple jersey and white pants.
*TCU limited Samford to just 143 total yards, marking the fewest allowed since the Horned Frogs held Grambling State to 70 yards on Sept. 8, 2012.
*TCU's defense also held Samford to nine first downs, marking the fewest by a Horned Frogs opponent since Kansas had seven on Oct. 12, 2013.
*Samford's 56 passing yards were the lowest by a TCU opponent since Grambling State had 26 through the air on Sept. 8, 2012.
*TCU rolled up 555 yards of total offense, marking its highest total since gaining 558 against No. 5 Utah on Nov. 6, 2010.
Individual Notes
*Jaden Oberkrom's first PAT of the game gave him a TCU record 80 consecutive makes, breaking a tie he held with Michael Reeder (79, 1994-97). He is now 85-of-85 in his career.
*Oberkrom added field goals of 22 and 25 yards, giving him 38 in his career and a tie for sixth all-time at TCU.
*Trevone Boykin set a career best with 29 completions. He was 29-of-41 for 320 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His previous career high for completions was 26 versus Texas Tech in 2012. Boykin was just short of his career-high of 332 yards against the Red Raiders in 2012.
*Boykin was the Horned Frogs' second-leading rusher with 29 yards on 10 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown. It was his 11th career rushing score, the most among active TCU players.
*Paul Dawson recorded his second career interception.
*On the first play after Dawson's pick, Boykin hit David Porter on a 19-yard touchdown pass. It was Porter's eighth career scoring reception, double the amount of the next-closest Horned Frog (Josh Doctson, 4).
*Kolby Listenbee's first career touchdown was on a 38-yard first quarter scoring reception from Boykin. He later added a 2-yard touchdown catch from Matt Joeckel.
*Listenbee had a career-best 76 yards on three receptions, including two scores. He entered the game with just three catches in his first two seasons.
*Joeckel's first pass at TCU was a 2-yard touchdown to Listenbee.
*Ty Slanina tied a career high with his team-best six receptions for 60 yards. He also had six catches last season at Oklahoma.
*Trevorris Johnson scored his first career touchdown on a 7-yard fourth-quarter carry, capping a 15-play, 99-yard drive. Johnson led the Frogs on the ground with 43 yards on eight carries.
*Emanuel Porter posted his first career reception in his first collegiate game, an 8-yard grab in the fourth quarter.
*Mike Tuaua had a career-high seven tackles, including 3 1/2 for loss, with two sacks. He also forced two fumbles.
*Marcus Mallet's team-high 10 tackles tied a career best set last season versus SMU.
*James McFarland had a career-high 2 1/2 tackles for loss among his six stops.