University of Houston
TCU
Houston Falls To TCU In Shootout, 62-55
10/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct 26, 2003
By MARK BABINECK
Associated Press Writer
HOUSTON (AP) - Brandon Hassell threw for 375 yards and four touchdowns as No. 15 TCU outscored Houston 62-55 on Saturday night to remain undefeated despite allowing 684 yards.
The Horned Frogs (8-0, 5-0 Conference USA), who join top-ranked Oklahoma and No. 2 Miami as the only Division I-A teams to emerge from the weekend unbeaten, couldn't shake resurgent Houston (5-2, 2-2) despite setting a school record with 782 yards.
Each side alternated scoring on the first seven possessions of the second half, with TCU taking a 52-40 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 2-yard run by Kenny Hayter.
The Frogs finally got some breathing room when Kevin Kolb, who was 17-of-36 for 434 yards and four touchdowns, fumbled to start a drive and Bo Schobel recovered for TCU. Hassell made the Cougars pay on the next play, finding Quentily Harmon for a 20-yard scoring pass and a 59-40 lead.
The Cougars made a late push when Vincent Marshall ran a lateral 36 yards down the right sideline and Jackie Battle punched in the 2-point conversion with 1:22 left. TCU bobbled the ensuing onside kick but recovered at the bottom of a pile on the wet field, and the offense ran out the clock.
TCU's output surpassed the previous team record of 736 the Frogs put up at the Astrodome in 1990 during a 56-35 loss to Houston. That also had been the most yardage Houston had given up until Saturday.
The victory kept alive TCU's remote chance to get a major bowl bid coming out of Conference USA. No. 12 Northern Illinois, the only other unbeaten heading into the day, lost 34-18 to No. 23 Bowling Green.
TCU's Robert Merrill rushed for 166 yards and a touchdown, Lonta Hobbs had 102 yards and a score and Cory Rodgers caught six passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns and added a 1-yard TD run. Hassell, who was 17-for-27, also ran for 66 yards.
For Houston, Kolb had 144 yards rushing and a touchdown, Brandon Middleton had six catches for 232 yards and two touchdowns and Marshall added five receptions for 106 yards and a score.
The Frogs shot to a 21-3 first-quarter lead, highlighted by Hassell-to-Rodgers scoring connections of 48 and 60 yards and a juggling catch by Reggie Harrell in the end zone.
But Kolb, a freshman whose numbers all were career highs, kept Houston alive and his 48-yard scoring pass play to an uncovered Middleton down the left side late in the second quarter cut TCU's lead to 28-24 at halftime.
