TCU
3-0 , 0-0
SMU
2-2 , 0-0
TCU Powers Past SMU
9/24/2022 4:10:00 PM | Football
Miller rushes for 142 yards, Duggan passes for 3 TDs
TCU is 3-0 for the first time since 2017, when Head Coach Sonny Dykes was on staff as an offensive analyst. Dykes is the first TCU head coach to start 3-0 since Francis Schmidt in 1929. The Horned Frogs are also the lone undefeated FBS team in Texas.
TCU built a 28-7 second-quarter lead and held off a Mustang rally with big plays on both sides of the ball.
With TCU's lead down to 28-21 and SMU looking to tie the game, Josh Newton came up with an interception and 32-yard return to the Mustang 37. Six plays later, Emari Demercado scored from a yard out to build the TCU lead back to 35-21 with 8:14 to play.
Demercado found the end zone again when it was needed most. With the Horned Frogs facing a 2nd-and-13 at their 37, Demercado broke free up the middle for a career-long 63-yard touchdown run to give TCU a 42-27 lead with 2:31 remaining.
Duggan, who entered the game as the nation's leader in completion percentage and passing efficiency, was 22-of-29 in the air for 278 yards.
TCU started fast. After winning the coin toss and electing to receive, Miler took the first snap for a 35-yard carry. It sparked a 5-play, 74-yard scoring drive capped by a 19-yard scoring pass from Duggan to Savion Williams, the first career touchdown for Williams.
An Abe Camara interception at the TCU 19 set up the Horned Frogs' next score, a 28-yard run up the middle by Miller to cap a 9-play, 81-yard drive and make it a 14-0 game with 51 seconds left in the first quarter. Miller has a rushing score in all three games this season.
After SMU closed within 14-7, Derius Davis returned the ensuing kickoff 57 yards. Four plays later, Jared Wiley caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Duggan to extend TCU's lead to 21-7 with 9:16 remaining in the first half.
The Horned Frogs' lead grew to 28-7 with 6:39 left in the second quarter when Davis took a short pass from Duggan and outraced the SMU defense untouched around the corner and into the end zone. It was TCU's longest pass play since Kenny Hill connected with Jalen Reagor on a 93-yard scoring strike against Stanford in the 2017 Alamo Bowl.
TCU led 28-14 at the half.
Up Next
TCU returns home next Saturday to host Oklahoma. The kickoff time is TBD.
Team Stats
TCU 7, SMU 0
TCU - Williams,Savion 19 yd pass from Duggan,Max (Kell,Griffin kick) 5 plays, 74 yards, TOP 02:22
TCU 14, SMU 0
TCU - Miller,Kendre 28 yd run (Kell,Griffin kick), 9 plays, 81 yards, TOP 03:34
TCU 14, SMU 7
SMU - Siggers,Tre 1 yd run (Rogers,Collin kick), 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:33
TCU 21, SMU 7
TCU - Wiley,Jared 8 yd pass from Duggan,Max (Kell,Griffin kick) 4 plays, 43 yards, TOP 01:51
TCU 28, SMU 7
TCU - Davis,Derius 80 yd pass from Duggan,Max (Kell,Griffin kick) 1 plays, 80 yards, TOP 00:11
TCU 28, SMU 14
SMU - Rice,Rashee 19 yd pass from Mordecai,Tanner (Rogers,Collin kick) 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:42
TCU 28, SMU 21
SMU - Siggers,Tre 1 yd run (Rogers,Collin kick), 10 plays, 98 yards, TOP 03:16
TCU 35, SMU 21
TCU - Demercado,Emari 1 yd run (Kell,Griffin kick), 6 plays, 37 yards, TOP 03:11
TCU 35, SMU 27
SMU - Siggers,Tre 2 yd run (), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:00
TCU 42, SMU 27
TCU - Demercado,Emari 63 yd run (Kell,Griffin kick), 5 plays, 72 yards, TOP 02:42
TCU 42, SMU 34
SMU - Bailey,Jake 35 yd pass from Mordecai,Tanner (Rogers,Collin kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:27
