Rapid Recap: TCU escapes Iowa State

Well, that was something.

The TCU Horned Frogs beat Iowa State 17-14 Saturday, but no TCU fan that watched the game is particularly thrilled.

It was a war of attrition — at different points, Jalen Reagor, KaVontae Turpin and Shawn Robinson all left the game with injuries. Robinson’s injury was the most serious, as he took a shot on a run late in the game and was down for some time. He left the field favoring his left wrist and did not return. Star Iowa State running back David Montgomery also left with an injury in the fourth quarter.

TCU could not get the offense going all game. The Frogs tallied 302 yards, 182 through the air and 120 on the ground. Robinson went 21-29, but much of his passes were for short yardage, and he had a bad interception on an underthrown ball to Derius Davis in triple coverage. He did throw for the Frogs’ first score on a 10-yard completion to Taye Barber.

The defense for TCU was the saving grace. The Frogs scored on a defensive touchdown when Innis Gaines strip-sacked Iowa State quarterback Zeb Noland and Ben Banogu returned the fumble 47 yards for a touchdown in the opening minutes of the second half. TCU allowed only 198 yards from Iowa State and held Noland to 78 yards passing.

The Frogs were tied 7-7 at the half, and after Banogu’s touchdown led until the fourth quarter. But on a 3rd and 25, Noland was able to scramble for a 28-yard run, and the Cyclones tied it up five plays later.

Robinson led TCU on a drive that started from the ISU 46 with 3:49 left and took the Frogs down to the Iowa State 10 before his injury. Jonathan Song kicked a 28-yard field goal with 37 seconds left to put TCU ahead by three. TCU’s defense held on the last-ditch drive from the Cyclones and forced a four-and-out that sealed the game.

TCU improved to 3-2 (1-1 Big 12). The Frogs have a bye next week before taking on Texas Tech in a Thursday night game on Oct. 11.