TCU Cruises Past Arkansas State, 52-3
9/23/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Associated Press Writer
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) (Sept. 23) - LaDainian Tomlinson ran for 140 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 18 TCU to a 52-3 victory over Arkansas State on Saturday night.
The Horned Frogs (3-0) scored on all but two of their possessions in the first three quarters.
TCU has won eight consecutive games, its longest winning streak since 1938 - the last time it won a national championship - and the fourth longest streak in the nation. Arkansas State is 0-4.
Tomlinson, who entered the game as the nation's leading rusher, opened the scoring nearly six minutes into the first quarter, sprinting through the heart of the Arkansas State defense for a 64-yard touchdown.
Arkansas State was able to generate some offense in the second quarter, moving the ball down to the TCU 2. But the Indians' 20-play, 78-yard drive stalled and they were forced to settle for a 19-yard field goal by Nick Gatto.
The Indians' passing attack was limited with the absence of leading receiver Robert Kilow. Arkansas State quarterback Cleo Lemon finished 8-of-17 for 65 yards, and was harassed by a strong TCU pass rush throughout the game.
Kilow, who has 20 receptions for 323 yards and one touchdown this season, suffered a concussion against Memphis last week and was held out of all but one practice leading up to Saturday's game.
Tomlinson scored his second touchdown of the evening, a 1-yard plunge into the end zone, with just over four minutes left in the first half. He rushed for 125 yards in the first half and sat out most of the second half.
TCU quarterback Casey Printers and receiver LaTarence Dunbar hooked up for touchdown passes of 1 and 74 yards. Printers finished 11-of-15 for 204 yards and three touchdowns. He also had one interception on the game's opening possession.
On TCU's second play of the second half, Printers found a streaking Dunbar in stride for the 74-yard score.
Dunbar had four receptions for 91 yards.
TCU was so offensively dominant that it didn't punt until there was 3:31 left to play in the third quarter. The Horned Frogs finished with 466 yards of offense.
Arkansas State only crossed midfield twice. In all, the Indians sputtered to 151 yards of offense on 61 plays.
The Indians were held to 86 rushing yards on 43 attempts. Jonathan Adams rushed for 93 yards on 23 carries.
Arkansas St. 0 3 0 0 - 3 TCU 14 17 7 14 - 52 First Quarter TCU-Tomlinson 64 run (Kaylakie kick), 9:05 TCU-Layne 3 run (Kaylakie kick), 1:55 Second Quarter ASU-FG Gatto 19, 8:08 TCU-Tomlinson 1 run (Kaylakie kick), 4:19 TCU-Dunbar 1 pass from Printers (Kaylakie kick), 1:29 TCU-FG Kaylakie 39, 0:02 Third Quarter TCU-Dunbar 74 pass from Printers (Kaylakie kick), 11:39 Fourth Quarter TCU-Layne 46 pass from Printers (Kaylakie kick), 12:54 TCU-Madison 14 run (Kaylakie kick), 5:18 A-32,167.
ASU TCU First downs 14 20 Rushes-yards 43-86 44-255 Passing 65 211 Comp-Att-Int 8-18-2 13-18-1 Return Yards 27 0 Punts-Avg. 5-35 2-36 Fumbles-Lost 4-2 0-0 Penalties-Yards 3-30 5-39 Time of Possession 30:43 29:17
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
ASU, Adams 23-93, Smith 9-21, Walker 3-2, Shatley 1-1, Lemon 7-(minus 31).
TCU, Tomlinson 23-140, Layne 4-34, Printers 6-29, Hayes-Stoker 4-24, Madison 5-20, Purcell 2-8.
PASSING
ASU, Lemon 8-17-1-65, Shatley 0-1-1-0.
TCU, Printers 11-15-1-204, Stilley 2-3-0-7.
RECEIVING
ASU, Smith 3-17, Powell 2-20, Hickenbotham 2-12, Adams 1-16.
TCU, Dunbar 4-91, Layne 2-55, James 2-7, Schobel 1-21, Brown 1-18, Maiden 1-13, Williams 1-7, Hayes-Stoker 1-0.
