TCU - Northern Illinois Postgame Notes
12/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 19, 2006
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•Quarterback Jeff Ballard was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player while Tommy Blake was selected as the Defensive Most Valuable Player.
•TCU, playing in its eighth bowl in the last nine years, has won bowl games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1998-99. The Frogs defeated USC 28-19 in the 1998 Sun Bowl in addition to a 28-14 victory over East Carolina in the 1999 Mobile Alabama Bowl.
•The Frogs are now 9-13-1 in their bowl history.
•TCU has won 11 games for the third time in four seasons and fifth time in its history.
•The Frogs' 48 victories over the last five years place third all-time for most wins in a five-year stretch at TCU. It's the highest total since the 1930s, when the 1931-35 and 1932-36 squads both won 49.
•TCU's 38 wins in the past four seasons tie for third all-time in a four-year stretch. The 1930-33 teams also won 38. The top mark is 40 victories by the 1932-35 and 1933-36 squads.
•With a 16-0 halftime lead, TCU outscored its opponents 192-13 in the first half during its eight-game winning streak to close the regular season.
•In his final contest, senior tailback Lonta Hobbs rushed for 109 yards to record his first 100-yard game of the season and 11th of his career. It was Hobbs' first 100-yard effort since Oct. 2, 2004 when he ran for 106 at Army. Hobbs is now tied with 1955 Heisman Trophy runner-up Jim Swink for sixth on the Frogs' career 100-yard games list.
•Hobbs' 4-yard first-quarter scoring run was the 38th of his career. He is second on TCU's all-time list, trailing only LaDainian Tomlinson (54, 1997-00).
•With 109 yards rushing, Lonta Hobbs closes his career with 3,071 to place fourth on the Frogs' career rushing list. He is one of just four players in TCU history to run for 3,000 yards.
•Jeff Ballard's 258 yards passing gave him 4,204 in his career. He became just the fourth player in TCU history to reach the 4,000-yard mark. He finishes fourth on TCU's career-passing list.
•Ballard closes his career with a 19-2 record as a starting quarterback. The .905 winning percentage ranks first all-time at TCU. His 61.1 career completion percentage (330-540) is tops among Frog signal callers. Ballard's 61.8 mark this season ranks first in TCU history, topping Tim Schade's mark of 60.1 in 1991. Last season, his 59.9 mark placed second.
•Ballard ended the season with no interceptions in his final 154 pass attempts.
•Ballard's 19 completions were spread among nine receivers.
•Senior wide receiver Quentily Harmon's career-high tying six receptions gave him 111 in his career, placing him ninth on TCU's all-time list.
•Harmon's 94 yards receiving were the third-most of his career. He finishes the season with 52 receptions for 791 yards.
•Brent Hecht's six-yard touchdown reception gave him three scoring grabs on his 11 catches this year.
•Tight end Shae Reagan had two catches for 23 yards. All 14 of his receptions on the season went for first downs.
•Torrey Stewart's second-quarter interception gave him three straight games with a pick. He has three interceptions on the season.
•Tommy Blake's two sacks gave him seven on the year and 19 in his career.
•Cody Moore's first-quarter sack was the third of his season and career.
•Jarrarcea Williams' sack gave him 2.5 for the season and his career.
•Eric Buchanan's sack was his second of the year and he finishes his career with 3.5.
•Chris Manfredini's 25-yard field goal made him 12-of-14 on the year and 25-of-27 in his two-year TCU career.
•Northern Illinois' 60 yards of offense is the fewest TCU has allowed this season, topping the 87 yards gained by San Diego State (Nov. 18). The 60 yards is also a bowl record.
•The Horned Frogs set the following TCU bowl records:
Team
Most Points Scored - 37
Most Touchdowns Scored - 5
Individual
Most Points Scored - 18, Jeff Ballard
Most Touchdowns Scored - 3, Jeff Ballard
Most Punt Returns - 6, Brian Bonner
Most Punt Return Yards - 89, Brian Bonner
