DFW Football Follow-up: TCU beats SMU

by Todd E. Jones of of College Football Top Ten

The TCU Horned Frogs retained the Iron Skillet and their access to an Old Neighborhood Grill type breakfast Saturday night at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in the DFW Duel beating the Southern Methodist University Mustangs 48-7. Two Frog defensive linemen intercepted quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell with Jerry Hughes returning one of the interceptions for a touchdown, and the Frog offense was at its game-controlling best rolling up a total of 498 yards. The Frog defense was dominant once again holding SMU to a total of 210 yards including minus 8 yards rushing.

For the year, the Horned Frogs move to 4-0, the first time since 2003 when TCU won 10 straight to open that season. Senior nose tackle Cody Moore had an interception, four tackles for a loss and two sacks to help lead the Frog defense. Junior defensive end Jerry Hughes also had an interception giving him two for the year. On offense, several players were productive for the Horned Frogs. Sophomore quarterback Andy Dalton had a touchdown run for the seventh consecutive game along with his 210 yards passing. Senior running back Aaron Brown played for the first time this season after serving a suspension for violating a University policy and promptly had 157 total all-purpose yards for TCU. Junior running back Joseph Turner scored on two touchdown runs continuing to be a reliable goal line threat for the Horned Frogs. Back up quarterback, Junior Marcus Jackson, had a 79 yard touchdown run along with a one yard touchdown pass in relief of Dalton. The Frogs totaled 271 yards rushing. Next week the Frogs travel to Norman, OK to play a team that you might have heard of, the Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners are ranked second in the nation.

For SMU, quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was 20 of 36 for 218 yards passing and one touchdown pass. Freshman Cole Loftin caught five passes for 52 yards and the only touchdown for the Mustangs. Junior wide receiver Aldrick Robinson had four catches for 70 yards and Junior receiver Emmanuel Sanders had six catches for 62 yards for the Ponies. For the year, the Mustangs fall to 1-3, but they can't dwell too long on Saturday's loss as they have to turn right around and play at Tulane on Thursday night. The Green Wave got their first win of the season against Louisiana-Monroe after starting the season against two ranked teams.