TCU
2-0 , 0-0
California
0-2 , 0-0
TCU Wins Thriller Over Cal
9/11/2021 7:34:00 PM | Football
Evans rushes for a career-best 190 yards
FORT WORTH - Zach Evans ran for a career-high 190 yards and Max Duggan equaled a career best with three touchdown passes while also running for a score as TCU rallied from a pair of 12-point deficits to win a 34-32 thriller over Cal Saturday afternoon at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
The Horned Frogs, just outside the Associated Press Top 25 this week at 26th in votes received, won their fifth straight game which is the seventh-longest active winning streak in the nation. TCU is now 8-0 versus Pac-12 opponents under Head Coach Gary Patterson.
Trailing 26-21, TCU went 75 yards in four plays to take a 27-26 lead with 9:53 to play on a 45-yard touchdown pass from Duggan to Quentin Johnston. It was Johnston's second receiving score of the game and part of his team-best five catches for 95 yards.
On their next series, the Horned Frogs took just five plays to go 81 yards to increase the margin to 34-26 with 5:47 left. Duggan had a 33-yard run to set up his own 9-yard keeper into the end zone on the next snap. He ran for 71 yards on 19 carries while completing 17-of-31 passes for 234 yards.
The Golden Bears answered with their own scoring drive to cut the margin to 34-32 with 4:09 remaining. However, the Horned Frogs made the stop on the 2-point rush attempt to preserve the 2-point lead.
Evans topped 100 yards rushing for the third time in the last four contests and extended his streak of a rushing touchdown to four consecutive games, the longest by a Horned Frog since Sewo Olonilua in 2019. The 190 yards were also the most by a TCU player since Olonilua rushed for 194 in the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl win over Cal.
Trailing 19-7, the Horned Frogs scored 14 points in a 6:28 span covering its final possession of the first half and opening series of the second half to take their first lead of the game at 21-19.
Evans' 51-yard touchdown run with 11 seconds left in the first half gave TCU momentum heading into the locker room at the break as the Horned Frogs trailed 19-14. TCU drove 65 yards in just two plays.
On its opening possession of the second half, TCU drove 75 yards in 15 plays, covering 6:17, for its first lead of the game on Duggan's 18-yard touchdown pass to Johnston.
Up Next
TCU has an open date next week before returning to action Sept. 25 when it hosts SMU. The kickoff time will be announced Monday.
Team Stats
CAL 6, TCU 0
CAL - Clark,Trevon 54 yd pass from Garbers,Chase () 3 plays, 68 yards, TOP 01:43
CAL 12, TCU 0
CAL - Scott,Daniel 8 yd interception ()
CAL 12, TCU 7
TCU - Conwright,Blair 30 yd pass from Duggan,Max (Kell,Griffin kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:01
CAL 19, TCU 7
CAL - Remigio,Nikko 7 yd pass from Garbers,Chase (Longhetto,Dario kick) 2 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:52
CAL 19, TCU 14
TCU - Evans,Zach 51 yd run (Kell,Griffin kick), 2 plays, 65 yards, TOP 00:17
CAL 19, TCU 21
TCU - Johnston,Quentin 18 yd pass from Duggan,Max (Kell,Griffin kick) 15 plays, 75 yards, TOP 06:17
CAL 26, TCU 21
CAL - Moore,Damien 12 yd run (Longhetto,Dario kick), 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 03:53
CAL 26, TCU 27
TCU - Johnston,Quentin 45 yd pass from Duggan,Max () 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:44
CAL 26, TCU 34
TCU - Duggan,Max 9 yd run (Kell,Griffin kick), 5 plays, 81 yards, TOP 03:09
CAL 32, TCU 34
CAL - Moore,Damien 1 yd run (), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:38
