Quarterback Garrett Gilbert threw five interceptions against TCU on Saturday. (Sidney Hollingsworth/The Daily Campus)
SMU’s offense couldn’t capitalize on great defensive play by the Mustangs, who allowed just 156 total yards from TCU’s potent offense, and lost the Battle for the Iron Skillet 24-16.
The offense turned the ball over six times and could not get anything going against TCU.
“You have to play all phases of the game and we did not do that tonight,” SMU Head Coach June Jones said.. “We had opportunities, as ugly as the game was, we had opportunities to win the game but obviously, we didn’t make the plays to do that.”
SMU quarterback continued to struggle and threw five interceptions including a first quarter interception that set up a TCU score to make it 7-0.
Even in the pouring rain, SMU could not get senior running back Zach Line going after a successful rushing attack in last year’s SMU-TCU battle in Fort Worth.
“This week we worked on the run,” TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson said. “He’s hurt us badly the last two seasons. We were not going to let Zach Line hurt us tonight.”
Line rushed for a season low 49 yards and although he had a touchdown, SMU failed to score from the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter after Line was stuffed on first down.
SMU then threw three straight incomplete passes even with Line in the backfield.
SMU threw the ball 40 times with little success and TCU was able to capitalize on big plays to score. TCU was given prime field position numerous times and TCU quarterback Casey Pachall operated the TCU offense efficiently when given those opportunities.
TCU was held to their lowest offensive total since 2006 and the SMU defense was led by senior linebacker Taylor Reed who had 14 tackles and one sack.
“Defensively, I was definitely happy about the performance,” Reed, who led the Mustangs with 14 tackles and a sack, said.
“We know are offense can do it. We just went out there for four quarters against a talented team. We just knew we had to get the ball back in the offense’s hands.”
SMU’s special teams gave up two big plays to give TCU a short field. Skye Dawson had a 64-yard punt return, which led to a 4-yard Matthew Tuckey touchdown run to make it 24-7 before halftime.
TCU turned the ball over a few times and gave SMU plenty of opportunities to keep the Iron Skillet in Dallas, but the trophy heads back to TCU after a tough battle in the rain.
SMU opens conference play next Saturday at UTEP, which gives the Mustangs a new season and life in hopes of winning Conference USA after a tough start to the season at 1-3.
