TCU
7-1 , 4-1
Southern Miss
5-3 , 3-1
Frogs Manhandle Southern Miss, 37-7
10/30/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 30, 2002
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes
By STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer
FORT WORTH, Texas - Freshman Lonta Hobbs ran for 123 yards and three touchdowns and Nick Browne kicked three field goals to lead TCU to its seventh straight win, 37-7 over Southern Mississippi on Wednesday night.
Hobbs' second TD, a 53-yard run, capped a 24-point third quarter for the Horned Frogs (7-1, 4-1 Conference USA) after Southern Mississippi (5-3, 3-1) had scored its only touchdown.
TCU had expected to redshirt Hobbs, but the plan changed because of injuries and a lack of production by other running backs over the first four games. Hobbs has rushed for 383 yards and seven TDs in four games.
Ricky Madison added 91 yards on 17 carries for the Horned Frogs, who took over the lead in the C-USA standings, one-half game ahead of Southern Miss, Louisville and Alabama-Birmingham. TCU beat two-time defending champion Louisville 45-31 in its last game.
Southern Miss opened the second half with Dustin Almond's 48-yard TD pass to Marvin Young, who was wide open in the flat and got a downfield block, to make it 13-7.
Browne's 48-yard field goal started a quick 17-point surge by TCU.
Almond's first pass after that was intercepted by Jared Smitherman and he returned 37 yards for a touchdown. Southern Miss then went three-and-out before Hobbs' third run of at least 50 yards this season on the first play of the next drive.
Hobbs took an option pitch to the right and had a clear shot down the sideline. Only one defender had a shot at him, but Hobbs cut back at the 15 to elude the tackle and slip into the end zone.
A 13-yard run by Hobbs with 42 seconds left in the third quarter ended the scoring.
Hobbs' first TD was a 15-yarder in the second quarter.
TCU quarterback Tye Gunn left the game with 5:40 to go in the third quarter with a right knee injury. The extent of the injury wasn't immediately known.
 John Turntine sacks Southern Miss quarterback Dustin Almond.  | |
Gunn's knee buckled awkwardly as he tried to avoid the pursuit of Southern Miss linebacker Rod Davis. Gunn was thrashing in pain until trainers reached him, and he was on the field for about 5 minutes before being wheeled off on a cart.
The Horned Frogs have won all four games Gunn has started since Sean Stilley injured his shoulder. Gunn remained the starter against Southern Miss even though Stilley was healthy.
Gunn was 8-of-15 for 102 yards while Stilley completed his only two passes for 35 yards.
Almond, the first Southern Miss freshman to start at quarterback in eight years, was 9-of-27 for 110 yards with an interception after going 7-of-22 for 92 yards in his first start, a 23-14 win over Cincinnati on Oct. 19.
Derrick Nix, C-USA's second-leading rusher at 117 yards per game, had 48 yards in the first half but didn't return after reaggravating a right ankle injury.
Browne also had field goals of 29 and 30 yards in the first half, and is 19-of-21 this season. His 19 field goals are the most in the nation.
Team Stats
USM 0, TCU 3
TCU - BROWNE, Nick 29 yd field goal 8 plays, 57 yards, TOP 3:23
USM 0, TCU 10
TCU - HOBBS, Lonta 15 yd run (BROWNE, Nick kick), 9 plays, 53 yards, TOP 3:28
USM 0, TCU 13
TCU - BROWNE, Nick 30 yd field goal 7 plays, 30 yards, TOP 1:19
USM 7, TCU 13
USM - YOUNG, Marvin 48 yd pass from ALMOND, Dustin (JONES, Curt kick) 5 plays, 72 yards, TOP 1:03
USM 7, TCU 16
TCU - BROWNE, Nick 48 yd field goal 7 plays, 31 yards, TOP 2:35
USM 7, TCU 23
TCU - SMITHERMAN, J. 37 yd interception (BROWNE, Nick kick)
USM 7, TCU 30
TCU - HOBBS, Lonta 53 yd run (BROWNE, Nick kick), 1 plays, 53 yards, TOP 0:09
USM 7, TCU 37
TCU - HOBBS, Lonta 13 yd run (BROWNE, Nick kick), 7 plays, 51 yards, TOP 2:55
