EV1.net Houston Bowl Notes
12/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 31, 2005
Recap | Final Stats | Photo Gallery
- Right guard Giles Montgomery made his first collegiate start, replacing an injured Ben Angeley (knee). Giles had played in only one previous game, the Nov. 12 regular-season finale versus UNLV. In TCU's opening 11 contests, the Horned Frogs had started the same offensive line of left tackle Michael Toudouze, left guard Shane Sims, center Stephen Culp, Angeley and right tackle Herbert Taylor.
- Robert Merrill's first-quarter 20-yard touchdown run was his 10th rushing touchdown of the season and the 20th of his career.
- In the first quarter, free safety Jeremy Modkins recorded his team-best third forced fumble of the season.
- Tailback Aaron Brown's first-quarter touchdown run was his sixth rushing score of the season and ninth touchdown on the year.
- The 2005 Frogs are just the fourth team in TCU history to reach 11 wins. The 2003 and 1938 teams won 11, while the 1935 squad was 12-1. The 1935 and 1938 Frogs were national champions.
- TCU has recorded 37 wins since the start of the 2002 season, tying for the second-most victories in school history over a four-year span. The Frogs also posted 37 victories from 2000-03. The most wins over a four-year period occurred from 1932-35 when TCU went 40-6-2.
- Jeff Ballard concluded the season with a 59.9 completion percentage (139-232) to finish with the second-best single season percentage in TCU history behind only Tim Schade in 1991 (101-168).
- TCU's streak of not allowing a touchdown ended at 10 quarters on a 48-yard second-quarter touchdown pass from Iowa State's Bret Meyer to Todd Blythe. It was the first time a Frog opponent reached the end zone since the fourth quarter on Oct. 29 at San Diego State.
- TCU played 53 players in the first quarter and 56 in the game.
- Iowa State's safety was the first allowed by TCU since Oct. 19, 2002 when Louisville blocked a Frog punt through the end zone.
- The second-quarter interception by defensive tackle Zarnell Fitch was his second pick of the season and his career.
- The 84-yard second-quarter touchdown pass from Jeff Ballard to Michael DePriest was TCU's longest play from scrimmage since a 98-yard completion from Brandon Hassell to Reggie Harrell at Arizona in 2003. It was also the seventh-longest pass play in TCU history.
- The scoring pass to DePriest gave TCU a new single-season school record 50 touchdowns on the year.
- Chris Manfredini's 29-yard second-quarter field goal made him 13-of-13 on the season.
- TCU finished the year with 398 points (27 today) for the second-best single-season total in school history, trailing only the 2000 squad that scored 410 points.
- TCU outscored its opponents 110-16 in the first quarter of its last eight games.
- TCU finished the year with only 31 points allowed in the fourth quarter and none in the final three games of the year.
- Redshirt freshman Walter Bryant had four receptions (35 yards) to double his previous career best of two catches on three occasions.
- Brian Bonner's fourth-quarter interception was his fourth pick of the season and his career.
- Chase Ortiz had a career-high three sacks for a loss of 22 yards and finished the season with team-high 9.5 sacks for 64 yards lost.
- Robert Merrill reached the century mark in rushing yards for the 10th time in his career as he ran for 109 yards on 11 carries.
- The win moved TCU's all-time bowl record to 8-13-1 in 23 bowl appearances and 4-3 with Gary Patterson on staff.
- The victory moves TCU's winning streak to 10 games for the third longest in the nation, behind only USC (34) and Texas (19). It is the Frogs' longest streak since winning 12 straight over the final two games in 2002 and the opening 10 contests in 2003.
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