Friday, December 28, 2007

Texas Bowl 2007: Game Recap

By Robert H. Kelly

(HOUSTON, TX, December 28, 2007) TCU tailback Justin Watts scored a fourth-quarter, go-ahead touchdown as TCU's defense shut down Houston en route to a 20-13 victory in the Texas Bowl on Friday.

The Horned Frogs came close to surrendering a 10-point lead with just over three minutes to play, but defensive end Chase Ortiz capped off an all star night by denying Houston quarterback Case Keenum the end zone with one second to play.

It was TCU’s third straight bowl win while the Cougars dropped their eighth straight bowl game, dating back to the Sun Bowl of 1981.

Trailing, 20-10, with 3:17 left in the game, Houston kicker T.J. Lawrence made it a one-possession game with a 32-yard field goal. But when an onside kick failed and the Horned Frogs downed a punt at the two-yard line with 1:30 remaining, it looked like the Cougars were done for the night..

Not wanting to lay down and die, Houston drove all the way down to the Horned Frogs' 19-yard-line with time left on the clock. The Cougars had three shots at the end zone, with two passes falling short, before Ortiz ended the game.

The Horned Frogs took the lead for the first time when Watts scored on a seven-yard run with 14:28 left in the game. The touchdown culminated a 13-play, 80-yard drive.

Horned Frogs place kicker Chris Manfredini knocked in a pair of second-half field goals to combine with Watts in helping TCU rally from a 10-7 halftime deficit.

Both teams struggled in the first half on the offensive end of the ball with the Houston scoring their only touchdown on a bit of razzle-dazzle. Facing 2nd-and-12 at its 33-yard line, Houston produced the biggest play in Texas Bowl history when Keenum scrambled to his right and when he could not find an open receiver, ran back to his left before connecting with a wide-open Andre Kohn for a 67-yard touchdown.

Kohn freed himself from defenders past the Horned Frog secondary and was not touched until he reached the goal line, giving the Cougars a 7-0 lead with eight seconds left in the first quarter.

TCU, however, answered that score following the Cougars' kickoff. The Horned Frogs marched 75 yards in 11 plays with quarterback Andy Dalton finishing the drive with a 3-yard run.

Dalton completed 21-of-30 passes for 249 yards in the victory, to become TCU's career leader in both pass attempts and completions. He was rewarded at the game's MVP at the post game awards ceremony

Texas Bowl 2007: Final Score: TCU-20, Houston-13

By Robert H. Kelly

After the Cougar field goal in the fourth quarter, Houston attempted an onside kick. TCU recovered and in three plays ran the clock down to 1:41. On a 4th and 7 from the 41, they punted to the Cougars and downed the ball on the 2-yard line.

Houston took over with 1:32 left in the game and drove 79-yards but to no avail. TCU held the Cougars and gave Coach Gary Patterson his first Texas Bowl victory.

The 2007 Texas Bowl MVP, as selected by the sportswriters, was TCU quarterback Andy Dalton.

Final score: TCU-20 Houston-13

Texas Bowl 2007: TCU-20 Houston-13

By Robert H. Kelly

The Houston Cougars had to settle for a field goal with 1:57 left in the game to cut the TCU lead to 7.

The 7 play, 60-yard drive lasted 1:17 and was capped by the 32-yard field goal by T.J. Lawrence.

Score: TCU-20 Houston-13

Texas Bowl 2007: TCU-20 Houston-10

By Robert H. Kelly

TCU used a field goal to add to their lead with 7:28 left in the game. Placekicker Chris Manfredini booted a 36-yard field goal to make the score 20-10 in favor of the Horned Frogs.

The score was the result of a 9 play 62-yard drive that lasted 4:19.

Score: TCU-20 Houston-10

Texas Bowl 2007: TCU-17 Houston-10

By Robert H. Kelly

TCU tailback Justin Watts found the end zone with a 7-yard run with 14:28 left in the fourth quarter. With the extra point good, TCU took a 17-10 lead in the game.

The scoring drive was 80-yards on 13 plays and lasted 4:56.

Score: TCU-17 Houston-10

Texas Bowl 2007: End of Third Quarter

By Robert H. Kelly

With three quarter of play finished, the TCU Horned Frogs and the Houston Cougars are locked in a 10-10 tie. With 15 minutes of play remaining.

With 59 seconds remaining in the quarter, a TCU pass to wide receiver Jimmy Young was rules incomplete. TCU challenged the call and after a 4-minute review, it was rules that Young indeed was in bounds (with one foot).

The 15-yard gain gave the Horned Frogs a 3rd and 3 from the 16 yard line going into the 4th quarter.

Texas Bowl 2007: Houston-10 TCU-10

By Robert H. Kelly

The TCU Horned Frogs capped a nine play, 30-yard scoring drive with 6:34 left in the 3rd quarter to tie the score at 10-10.

Kicker Chris Manfredinin split the uprights with the 29-yard field goal.

Score: Houston-10 TCU-10

Texas Bowl 2007: Halftime Notes

By Robert H. Kelly

The first half of the 2007 Texas Bowl ended with the Houston Cougars having a 10-7 lead over the TCU Horned Frogs.

Neither team has shown much in the way of offense with Houston having 191 total yards (14-yards rushing and 177-yard passing) while the Horned Frogs achieved 134 total yards (58-yards rushing and 76-yards passing).

Perhaps the second half will see more offense from these two highly touted teams.

Texas Bowl 2007: Houston-10 TCU-7

By Robert H. Kelly

Houston completed a 13-play, 68-yard drive with a field goal to take the score to 10-7 in favor of the Cougars.

The scoring drive was the longest in Texas Bowl history both in terms of plays and time. The 13 plays were two more than TCU 11-play drive earlier in the quarter, and and took 6L38 off the clock.

Score: Houston-10 TCU-7

Texas Bowl 2007: TCU Ties Game

By Robert H. Kelly

TCU evened up the score at 10:24 in the second quarter on a three yard run by quarterback Andy Dalton to take the score to 6-0. The PAT was good to take the score to 7 all.

The scoring drive was eleven plays for 75 yards, lasting 4:38.

Score: Houston Cougars-7 TCU Horned Frogs-7

End of 1st Quarter: UH-7 TCU-0

By Robert H. Kelly

At the end of the 1st quarter, the Houston Cougars have jumped out to a 7-0 lead on a case Keenum pass to Andre Kohn.

TCU will have possession of the ball to start the second quarter.
Second quarter action to follow.

Texas Bowl 2007: Cougars-7 TCU-0

By Robert H. Kelly

With 8 seconds left in the 1st quarter, the Houston Cougars scored on a pass from quarterback Case Keenum to Andre Kohn. T.J. Lawrence's PAT was good to make the score 7-0.

The scoring drive was two plays which lasted 57 seconds. Keenum's pass to Kohn was 65 yards and was the longest play from scrimmage in the two year history of the Texas Bowl.

Score: Houston-7 TCU-0

Texas Bowl 2007


The 2007 edition of the Texas Bowl will see the Houston Cougars (8-4) facing off against TCU (7-5), representing the Mountain West Conference in the 25th meeting of these Texas football powerhouses. Game time is set for 7:30pm CST in Houston’s Reliant Stadium.

Houston has been to a bowl game in four of the past five years, while TCU finds itself playing in a bowl game in Houston for the third time in seven years.

TexSport Publications will be reporting live from the game with senior writer Robert Kelly reporting with updates as the game progresses.

Check back for updates as game time approaches.