How No. 7 TCU beat West Virginia 41-31 to remain unbeaten

The TCU Horned Frogs (8-0) traveled to Morgantown, W.Va., and beat the Mountaineers (3-5) in a Big 12 contest. Star-Telegram sports editor Dave Ammenheuser’s comments, notes and more from the game. Follow along here (all notes are in reverse chronological order).

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TCU hosts Texas Tech at Amon G. Carter Stadium on Nov. 5.

Fourth-quarter notes

TCU 10th possession: Starts at 50. TCU goes to the ground to run time off the clock, then Max Duggan throws a 29-yard touchdown pass to Savion Williams with 20 seconds left. Griffin Kell’s extra point gives TCU the final 41-31 margin.

WVU 10th possession: Starts at WVU 16. Three plays lose 2 yards. Punt ball away, to 50. TCU ball with 2:53 left.

TCU 9th possession: WVU onside kick is recovered at WVU 46. Max Duggan throws his second interception of the season, on 3rd-and-10. Ball is picked off by Jared Wiley at the WVU 16 with 3:56 left.

WVU 9th possession: Starts at WVU 22. Mountaineers drive down the field on 12 plays, 78 yards, finishing with a 23-yard touchdown pass from JT Daniels to Reese Smith. Casey Legg’s extra point pulls Mountaineers within 34-31 with 4:12 remaiing.

TCU 8th possession: Starts at TCU 46. Horned Frogs drive to WVU 25 and settle on Griffin Kell’s 46-yard field goal. Horned Frogs lead 34-24 with 9:11 left.

WVU 8th possession: Starts at WVU 25. Mountaineers go three-and-out. Mountaineers punt. TCU downs ball at TCU 46. 11:47 remaining.

TCU 7th possession continues: Resumes at the WVU 1 on first down: First three plays of the quarter go nowhere as the Horned Frogs lose 11 yards. TCU settles on Griffin Kell’s 30-yard field goal to extend Horned Frogs lead to 31-24 with 13:03 left.

Third-quarter notes

TCU 7th possession: Starts on TCU 4. Savion Williams had a 57-yard reception to key a 10-play drive that lands at the WVU 1 and a first down on final play of the third quarter. TCU will have first down at the WVU 1 when the fourth quarter begins.

WVU 7th possession: Starts at WVU 42. Mountaineers drive all the way to the TCU 4. But JT Daniels’ passes on third and fourth down fall incomplete. TCU will take over at their own 4. 5:10 remaining in the quarter.



TCU 6th possession: Start at TCU 25. TCU goes three-and-out for one of the few times this season. Horned Frogs punt to WVU 42. 10:12 left in quarter.

WVU 6th possession: Starts at WVU 25. Mountaineers drive goes three-and-out, plus WVU’s Jordan White is given 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty. However, TCU punt is muffed by punt returner Derius Davis. Recovered by Mountaineers at the TCU 17. Mountaineers gain 2 yards on 3 plays, settling on a 33-yard Casey Legg field goal. TCU leads 28-24 with 11:05 left in the quarter.

Halftime statistics

At halftime: TCU has scored on 4 of its 5 possessions; WVU has scored on 3 of its 4 (its fifth possession was only in final seconds of the half).

TCU has a 332-205 yardage edge in offense.

TCU’s Max Duggan is 12 of 17 for 234 yards and two touchdowns; WVU’s JT Daniels is 14 of 19 for 163 yards and one touchdown.

Kendre Miller leads the Horned Frogs with three rushes for 64 yards; CJ DOnaldson leads the Mountaineers with 12 carries and 84 yards.

For TCU, Taye Barber has four catches for 99 yards and a touchdown and Quentin Johnston has three catches for 30 yards and a touchdown.

For WVU, eight different receivers have 14 catches.

Second-quarter notes

WVU 5th possession: Starts at WVU 20.

TCU 5th possession: Starts at TCU 27. Horned Frogs move down the field. Emani Bailey rushes 30 yards for a touchdown with 24 seconds left in the quarter. TCU leads 28-21.

WVU 4th possession: Drive begins at WVU 11. Mountaineers drive down the field, going for it on fourth down at the TCU 5. Score on Justin Johnson’s 5-yard touchdown reception from JT Daniels. Casey Legg’s extra point ties the game 21-21 with 1:35 left in the half.

The Horned Frogs’ big-play offense continues. At this point, they’ve scored on scoring plays of 71, 55 and 51 yards.

TCU 4th possession: Starts at TCU 49. After the WVU turnover, Kendre Miller’s 51-yard touchdown run gives TCU 20-14 lead. Griffin Kell’s extra point gives the Horned Frogs their first lead, 21-14, with 7 minutes left in the half.

WVU 3rd possession: Starts at WVU 25 Mountaineers drive into TCU territory, however WVU quarterback JT Daniels fumbles on fourth down at the TCU 45. Ball is recovered by TCU’s Lwal Uguak at the TCU 49.

TCU 3rd possession: Starts at TCU 25. I guess Quentin Johnston is feeling OK enough to play. Max Duggan connects with him on a 55-yard touchdown pass, completing a 5-play, 75-yard drive. Griffin Kell’s extra point ties game 14-14 with 11:42 left in half.

WVU 2nd possession: On first play of the second quarter, CJ Donaldson scores on a 1-yard run. His second TD of the game. Casey Legg adds extra point. Mountaineers lead 14-7 with 14:47 left in the half.

Quentin Johnston out, back in

TCU star wide receiver Quentin Johnston suffered an apparent ankle injury in the first quarter on the Horned Frogs’ first series. He re-entered the game in the TCU second series, but quickly left the game again. He returned in the second quarter, scoring on a 55-yard touchdown play (see above).

First-quarter notes

WVU 2nd possession: Starts at WVU 25. Mountaineers drive to the TCU 1 when the quarter ends.

TCU 2nd posssession: Starts at TCU 28. Horned Frogs tie game quickly as Max Duggan connects with Taye Barber for a 71-yard touchdown pass. Griffin Kell’s extra point ties the game 7-7 with 4:27 left int he quarter.

WVU 1st possession: Starts at WVU 20. The Mountaineers march 80 yards on 8 plays, scoring on CJ Donaldson’s 1-yard run. Casey Legg’s extra point gives Mountaineers a 7-0 lead with 6:02 left in the quarter.

TCU 1st possession: Starts at TCU 19. Horned Frogs drive to the WVU 23, but Max Duggan is sacked for a loss of 12. Thus, Horned Frogs punt into end zone. 10:40 remaining in first quarter.

Coin flip

West Virginia wins coin flip; TCU receives opening kickoff.

Pregame reads

Everything to know about TCU’s perfect season

Thre reasons why TCU will win; three reasons why the Horned Frogs will lose

TCU not focused on recent struggles against West Virginia

TCU quarterback Max Duggan compared to Tim Tebow

How to watch or listen

When: Oct. 29 at 11 a.m.

Where: Milan Puskar Stadium

TV: ESPN

Radio: WBAP Radio with Riff Ram, Varsity and Tune-In apps

Line: TCU -7 point favorite.

Last meeting: West Virginia defeated TCU 29-17 on Oct. 23, 2021