TCU
7-1 , 5-0
Air Force
3-5 , 2-4
TCU remains undefeated in MWC play
10/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 22, 2005
Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery | Audio Highlight Clips
TCU-Air Force Game Book in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) - Jeff Ballard completed 20-of-28 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns while also running for a score to lead No. 21 TCU to a 48-10 victory over Air Force this afternoon at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The Horned Frogs (7-1, 5-0) remain undefeated in the Mountain West Conference as they move a step closer to a championship in their first season of league play.
TCU totaled a season-high 546 yards of offense.
It took TCU just 1:06 to grab a 7-0 lead. On the game's opening series, the Frogs drove 64 yards in five plays with fullback William Jackson scoring on a 1-yard run. The key play was a 50-yard pass completion from Ballard to Cory Rodgers to the Air Force 5. Jackson scored two plays later.
Rodgers had six receptions for 128 yards as he posted his second 100-yard game of the season and the seventh of his career.
Air Force (3-5, 2-4) drove inside the TCU 5 on its ensuing possession, before Drew Coleman's end-zone interception thwarted the Falcon scoring threat.
Air Force closed within 7-3 on a 39-yard field goal by Scott Eberle with 47 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
TCU countered with an 11-play, 80-yard drive to take a 14-3 lead on an 8-yard run by Robert Merrill with 12:06 left in the first half.
The Falcons made it a 14-10 game on a 3-yard keeper by quarterback Shaun Carney with 7:28 to play in the second quarter. Four plays earlier, Carney kept the drive alive by completing a 22-yard pass to Jason Brown on a fourth-and-20.
A 33-yard pass from Ballard to Donald Massey on a third-and-10 highlighted TCU's next possession. Five plays later, Ballard hit tight end Brent Hecht with a 15-yard touchdown toss to increase the Frogs' lead to 21-10 with 4:38 remaining in the first half. It capped a 10-play, 70-yard drive.
A punt block by Jesse Hejny on Air Force's next series gave TCU possession at the Falcon 21. An 18-yard pass from Ballard to Rodgers put the Frogs on the 1-yard line. On the next play, Ballard ran it in to provide TCU a 27-10 halftime advantage.
Aaron Brown's first career rushing touchdown, and fourth overall, was a 3-yard run to give TCU a 34-10 lead with 3:41 left in the third quarter. The Frogs drove 80 yards in 14 plays, covering 4:56, for the score.
The Frogs' lead grew to 41-10 with 1:57 left in the third quarter when Ballard hit Rodgers with a 31-yard scoring toss.
TCU's final score came on a 19-yard run by quarterback Chad Huffman, his first collegiate touchdown. Huffman totaled 30 yards rushing on five carries while completing 2-of-4 passes for 24 yards.
TCU continues on the road next week at San Diego State. Kickoff is 7 p.m. (Central) at Qualcomm Stadium. The Frogs' next home game is Nov. 5 versus Colorado State at 6 p.m.
Team Stats
TC 7, AF 0
TC - JACKSON, Willia 1 yd run (MANFREDINI, Chr kick), 5 plays, 64 yards, TOP 1:06
TC 7, AF 3
AF - EBERLE, Scott 39 yd field goal 10 plays, 38 yards, TOP 5:56
TC 14, AF 3
TC - MERRILL, Robert 8 yd run (MANFREDINI, Chr kick), 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:41
TC 14, AF 10
AF - CARNEY, Shaun 3 yd run (EBERLE, Scott kick), 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:38
TC 21, AF 10
TC - HECHT, Brent 15 yd pass from BALLARD, Jeff (MANFREDINI, Chr kick) 10 plays, 70 yards, TOP 2:45
TC 27, AF 10
TC - BALLARD, Jeff 1 yd run (MANFREDINI, Chr kickfailed), 5 plays, 21 yards, TOP 0:54
TC 34, AF 10
TC - BROWN, Aaron 3 yd run (MANFREDINI, Chr kick), 14 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:56
TC 41, AF 10
TC - RODGERS, Cory 31 yd pass from BALLARD, Jeff (MANFREDINI, Chr kick) 4 plays, 51 yards, TOP 1:25
TC 48, AF 10
TC - HUFFMAN, Chad 19 yd run (MANFREDINI, Chr kick), 14 plays, 87 yards, TOP 5:42
