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Nov 22, 2009 2:15 pm US/Central
Steady Play Of QB Dalton Leads Fourth-Ranked Frogs
FORT WORTH (AP) ―
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Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs talks on the sideline in the game against the San Diego State Aztecs on November 7, 2009 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. TCU won 55-12.
Stephen Duhn/Getty Images
Andy Dalton's penchant for producing big plays isn't confined to the field.
Along with rolling up wins for No. 4 TCU, the junior quarterback also rescues dogs in distress. This has simply been that type of charmed season for Dalton and the Horned Frogs.
TCU is 11-0 for the first time since 1938 after a 45-10 win over Wyoming on Saturday that gave the Frogs at least a share of the Mountain West Conference title and kept them in the hunt for a BCS bowl.
TCU wraps up the regular season next weekend against New Mexico, which edged Colorado State on Saturday for its first win of the season. Provided the Frogs beat the Lobos, they can sit back and wait to see if their work was enough.
"(We) see what's ahead of us," said Dalton, whose team remained at No. 4 in The Associated Press poll released Sunday. "If we win next week, we get a shot at a big bowl. It's motivation for us. We're trying to play our best each week. Hopefully, we'll impress someone."
Dalton certainly impressed a runner out for a jog with her dog. While driving down the road a few months back, a woman frantically waved him over after her dog had fallen ill.
Dalton then did what he does best -- engineered a crucial drive.
"She said, 'My dog has passed out and isn't moving, please take me to my car,"' Dalton recalled. "I told her, 'Put your dog in my car and I can take you.' I gave them some water and got the dog in the car."
Just like he's been doing all season, Dalton came through under pressure.
The red-haired signal caller out of Katy, Texas, has the Frogs marching to his steady beat. Over the last six games, he's thrown 12 touchdown passes and just two picks.
The calmly confident Dalton also is approaching legendary company. With 28 career wins, he's one shy of matching the school record that Slingin' Sammy Baugh set from 1934-36.
"It's pretty cool to be considered with a guy like that," said Dalton, who became the starter as a redshirt freshman in 2007.
For all the wins, though, he's almost an afterthought in the Heisman Trophy race. It's a notion that TCU coach Gary Patterson understands quite well since his team is in the same boat.
"It's because it started too late. It's like being ranked. If you want a chance to be in the top 10, you have to start higher and Andy Dalton didn't start very high," Patterson said. "I think he will be a guy people will pay attention to. All he's ever done is win."
All those wins have cost Dalton some hair, though. He told his teammates over the summer that if the Frogs won 10 straight, he'd shave his locks into a faux Mohawk.
Keeping his word, Dalton went to receiver Jeremy Kerley's barber to get his tresses trimmed late last week, allowing the stylist to have free reign over Dalton's hair. The next thing Dalton knew, he had "TCU" carved into the side of his head.
"I guess I lost a bet," Dalton said, "but it was a good bet to lose."
Now, he's hoping the Frogs can earn a crack at one of the big boys on the block in a big-money bowl. But that's out of his control.
"It's all speculation who will go and then who should go. Each team thinks they should have the shot," Dalton said. "We're trying to play the best we can each week and hopefully we're impressing some people as we do it."
Dalton was consistent through the air against Wyoming, finishing 10-of-19 for 168 yards and a 45-yard TD strike to Kerley. He also threw an interception on a tipped pass.
Even more, he displayed another part of his game -- his running ability. When the Cowboys left the middle of the field open, Dalton took off through the line and finished with a season-high 88 yards rushing.
"It seemed to work for us," Dalton casually said.
These days, pretty much everything is working for a team that boasts a high-powered offense to match their dominating defense. The Frogs gained more than 500 yards of offense for the fourth straight week, with the running game doing most of the damage against Wyoming. Matthew Tucker and Joseph Turner each scored two touchdowns and combined for 200 yards on the ground.
"I'm glad to see everything's clicking," Dalton said. "For these seniors, for this program, for this school, it's been a lot of fun this whole year."
Team Notes:
*TCU has clinched at least a share of the Mountain West Conference championship. The Horned Frogs can win the outright title with a victory next week at home versus New Mexico. It's TCU's first conference title since 2005, its first season in the MWC. TCU has now had at least a share in 15 conference championships in its history.
*The Horned Frogs are 11-0 for the second time in their history and the first time since their 1938 national championship season.
*TCU has won 11 games for the fifth time in the last seven seasons. It's the first time since 2003 the Horned Frogs have won 11 games in the regular season.
*Next week's game with New Mexico will give TCU an opportunity for just the second 12-win season in its history. The 1935 national championship team was 12-1 after a 3-2 victory over LSU in the Sugar Bowl. No TCU team has ever won 12 games in the regular season.
*The Horned Frogs' seniors picked up their 41st victory, tying them for the winningest class in TCU history with last year's seniors.
*TCU extended its winning streak to 13 games. It's the Horned Frogs' longest run of victories since winning their final 10 games in 2005 and the opening three contests in 2006.
*Wyoming was held to five first downs and 178 yards of offense. The Cowboys' only touchdown was on a 98-yard fumble return. Wyoming had 84 yards rushing on 36 carries with its longest run from scrimmage being eight yards.
*The Horned Frogs did not commit a penalty, marking their first flag-free game since a 45-33 win at San Diego State in the 2007 regular-season finale.
*TCU improved to 61-1 under head coach Gary Patterson when allowing 17 points or less.
*In just 11 games, TCU has tied its single-season school record for points scored with 437. The mark was set last year in 13 contests. The Horned Frogs have scored at least 38 points in a school-record six consecutive games.
*TCU scored in its 214th consecutive game, the third-longest active streak in the nation and tied for 13th all-time.
*The Horned Frogs had a halftime lead (24-10) for the 10th time in 11 games this season.
*TCU had two takeaways and now has eight in the last three games.
*For the first time in its last four contests, TCU did not score on its opening possession of the game. The Horned Frogs had a field goal against UNLV (Oct. 31) and touchdowns versus San Diego State (Nov. 7) and Utah (Nov. 14).
Individual Notes
*Andy Dalton improved his record to 28-6 as TCU's starting quarterback, leaving him one victory shy of tying Sam Baugh (29-7-2, 1934-36) for most wins by a starting quarterback in TCU's history.
*Dalton's 45-yard second-quarter touchdown pass to Kerley was his 39th career scoring toss, moving him within one of tying Baugh (40, 1934-36) for second on TCU's all-time list.
*Dalton's 88 yards rushing in just three quarters of play was a season high, surpassing the 86 he had in the 14-10 win at Clemson. His career best is 91 against Stanford last year.
*Matthew Tucker had 134 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 11 carries. It's the second-straight game a TCU freshman has topped the 100-yard mark. Ed Wesley ran for 137 yards in last week's 55-28 win over Utah.
*Tucker had touchdown runs of 3 and 48 yards, giving him eight rushing touchdowns on the season, second on TCU behind Joseph Turner (11). Tucker has run for a score in each of the last three games.
*Tucker's 48-yard third-quarter touchdown run was the longest carry of his career.
*Turner had a pair of 5-yard second-half touchdown runs to give him 29 in his career, moving him past Jim Swink (1954-56) into fourth on TCU's career list. Swink was the 1955 Heisman Trophy runner-up. Turner has a team-high 11 rushing touchdowns this season. Next on the list for Turner is Tony Jeffery in third with 31 (1984-87).
*With his 31-yard carry on the final play of the third quarter, Turner became the 13th player in TCU history to go over 2,000 career yards rushing. He's now at 2,028 yards.
*Jeremy Kerley's 37 punt return yards give him 480 on the year, moving him past Cy Leland (473, 1930) into fourth place on TCU's single-season chart. Kerley is 15 yards shy of passing Lindy Berry (494, 1947) for third.
*Bart Johnson's 7-yard reception in the second quarter extended his team-best streak to 20 consecutive games with at least one catch.
*Ross Evans' 28-yard second-quarter field goal made him 14-of-16 on the season.
*Jimmy Young's two catches for 25 yards have tied him with LaTarence Dunbar (109, 1999-02) for 10th on TCU's all-time receptions list.
*Greg McCoy's 81-yard kickoff return for a touchdown was TCU's first kickoff return for a score since last year's game with Wyoming, when Aaron Brown went 85 yards for a touchdown.
*McCoy's third-quarter interception gave him a pick in his second straight road game. He also had an interception at San Diego State (Nov. 7). McCoy has three interceptions in his career.
*Jeremy Kerley's 45-yard touchdown reception was the longest catch of his career.
*Tank Carder's third-quarter forced fumble was TCU's ninth forced fumble of the year by nine different players. Wayne Daniels made the recovery. It was Daniels' second fumble recovery of the season. He's the lone Horned Frog with more than one recovery this season.
(© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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