Nov 23, 2024; Fort Value, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Josh Hoover (10) throws a cross earlier than the sport in opposition to the Arizona Wildcats at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Tim Heitman-Imagn Photographs TCU performed its finest soccer throughout the second half of the common season.
Louisiana performed its worst recreation of the season in its most up-to-date contest.
The Horned Frogs (8-4) will attempt to preserve rolling and the Ragin’ Cajuns (10-3) will attempt to bounce again once they meet within the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday afternoon in Albuquerque.
TCU received 5 of its previous six video games, together with the final three.
“We had been 3-3 and it did not look superb,” Horned Frogs coach Sonny Dykes stated. “We did not play nicely and we had three video games the place we turned the ball over 12 instances, which is sort of unprecedented within the historical past of soccer. However we managed to get by it and survive it.”
TCU had misplaced three of 4 when it entered an open date in early October. Dykes and his workers used the time to get the gamers targeted on how they may flip the season round. Within the subsequent recreation, the Horned Frogs received 13-7 at Utah, and their solely loss the remainder of the way in which got here on a last-second tiebreaking discipline purpose at Baylor.
“The gamers jumped on board and did every thing we requested them to do,” Dykes stated. “I believe that confirmed lots of character.”
The Horned Frogs eradicated the rash of turnovers and had been plus-3 in turnover margin over their closing six regular-season video games.
Sophomore quarterback Josh Hoover ranks seventh nationally in passing yards (3,697). He’s 1 yard behind Max Duggan for the second-highest single-season complete in class historical past and desires 205 to interrupt Trevone Boykin’s report of three,901.
He has a 1,000-yard receiver in Jack Bech, an LSU switch who’s a local of Lafayette, La., the place the Ragin’ Cajuns are situated.
Louisiana’s solely losses had been to bowl-eligible groups. The Ragin’ Cajuns misplaced by eight factors to Tulane in September and by two to South Alabama in November earlier than being routed by Marshall 31-3 within the Solar Belt Convention championship recreation in Lafayette on Dec. 7.
“You at all times look ahead to the following alternative,” Cajuns coach Michael Desormeaux stated.
Desormeaux stated the chance to face a staff from an influence convention ought to allow his staff to overlook the frustration of the Marshall loss.
“It is at all times an enormous deal for us,” he stated. “In the event you can end this season with a win in opposition to a staff like TCU and end with 11 wins, that places you in a greater beginning spot subsequent 12 months.”
Desormeaux stated beginning quarterback Ben Wooldridge has an opportunity to play within the bowl recreation after lacking the final three video games due to a shoulder damage. His alternative, Chandler Fields, has accomplished 72.4 % of his passes with 5 touchdowns and one interception.
Irrespective of who’s below heart, Desormeaux is aware of he has “an actual weapon” in kicker Kenneth Almendares, who received the Lou Groza Award. He made all however two of his 29 field-goal makes an attempt, and the misses got here from 53 and 60 yards. Almendares is 46-for-47 on further factors.
“Kenny has been phenomenal,” Desormeaux stated. “Any time you get throughout (midfield), you recognize you are not far-off from getting some factors on the board.”
–Discipline Stage Media
