TCU's Matthew Tucker (photo by Duane Barker)
(San Diego) – Casey Pachall hit Skye Dawson on a 42 yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to rally TCU to a 31-24 win over Louisiana Tech Wednesday night before 24, 607 in the 7th annual Poinsettia Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium by Qualcomm in San Diego.
TCU entered the fourth quarter down 24-17 but put together a time consuming drive that Luke Shiver finished with one yard run to tie it with 7:49 remaining. A little over three minutes later Pachall hit Dawson with the game winner.
Matt Nelson booted a 23 yard field goal in the first quarter to give Louisiana Tech a 3-0 lead. Ross Evans got the Horned Frogs even early in the second with a 25 yard kick through the uprights.
Louisiana Tech grabbed the lead in the second quarter when Quinton Patton hauled in a two yard touchdown pass from Cameron Colby. The score was set up by a 26 yard pass from Colby to Taulib Ikharo.
The Bulldogs had a chance to extend the lead but Greg McCoy intercepted Colby later in the period and returned it to the La Tech 25. The Frogs cashed in on the turnover when Ed Wesley scored on seven yard run with 26 seconds left in the quarter. They went into the break tied at 10.
TCU pieced together an 11 play, 55 yard drive to open the third. Matthew Tucker went over from a yard out to put the Frogs back in front.
Josh Cuthbert recovered a fumbled punt by Brandon Carter later in the quarter to put the Bulldogs in position at the TCU 12. Three plays later, Hunter Lee pounded in for a one yard score to knot it at 17.
The Bulldogs needed a big play and they got it late in the third after Pachall was picked off by Quinn Gyles. Three plays later Colby found Myles White behind the TCU secondary. White caught the pass in stride and raced 61 yards to pay dirt to give Louisiana Tech a 24-17 lead with 2:10 left in the third.
The Horned Frogs then bounced back to dominate the fourth quarter outscoring La Tech 14-0. They also had a big advantage in time possession controlling the ball for 12:42 compared to 2:18 for La Tech.
Pachall completed 15 of 29 for 206 yards and a touchdown for TCU. He also had one interception. For Louisiana Tech Colby was 21 of 43 for 264 yards, two scores and an interception.
Dawson took home Offensive MVP honors while McCoy was named the Defensive MVP.
It was the first meeting ever between the schools as TCU remained undefeated in the Poinsettia Bowl at 3-0. The Horned Frogs also won in 2006 and ’08.
TCU finished the season at 11-2 while Louisiana Tech ended the year at 8-5.
LAT 3 7 14 0 24
TCU 0 10 7 14 31
1st Qtr:
LAT: 8:30 Matt Nelson 23 yd FG
2nd Qtr:
TCU: 14:11 Ross Evans 25 yd FG
LAT: 11:37 Quinton Patton 2 yd pass from Colby Cameron (Nelson Kick)
TCU: :26 Ed Wesley 7 yd run (Evans Kick)
3rd Qtr:
TCU: 9:54 Matthew Tucker 1 yd run (Evans Kick)
LAT: 7:18 Hunter Lee 1 yd run (Nelson Kick)
LAT: 2:10 Myles White 61 yd pass from Cameron Colby (Nelson Kick)
4th Qtr:
TCU 7:49 Shivers 1 yd run (Evans Kick)
TCU 4:26 Dawson 42 yd pass from Pachall (Evans Kick)
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