TCU quick to punch in rolling over BYU

Texas Christian quickly crushed any notions Brigham Young may have had about revenge.

The 10th-ranked Horned Frogs scored the game’s first three touchdowns, then stifled every attempt No. 16 BYU made at a comeback in a 38-7 win Saturday night.

“We came out firing tonight. That’s what we needed to do,” said Andy Dalton, who threw for 241 yards and three touchdowns as TCU remained unbeaten. “I think it shows the capabilities of our team. We still haven’t played our best game, but we played really well tonight.”

Yes, they did.

TCU (7-0, 3-0 Mountain West) held BYU under 300 yards of offense and didn’t turn the ball over once in a blowout that kept the Frogs in the hunt for a possible Bowl Championship Series berth.

The Frogs won their eighth straight and routed the Cougars (6-2, 3-1) for the second year in a row. The Frogs sacked Max Hall five times, including once when he was called for intentional grounding. Hall was sacked again on the next play, causing a fumble early in the fourth quarter that led to a touchdown to finish the blowout with 12 minutes left.

“We’ve been having fun all year. That wasn’t very much fun,” Hall said. “That defense is the best defense that I’ve faced.”

Hall finished 18 for 28 for 162 yards with a touchdown. BYU committed nine penalties.

“I don’t think anyone would have predicted this, and that’s why I told the players to enjoy the moment,” TCU Coach Gary Patterson said.