AP: No. 25 Houston misses late field goal in 17-14 loss to TCU

[TopFrog]

No. 25 Houston misses late field goal in 17-14 loss to TCU​

HOUSTON (AP) — Josh Hoover threw for 293 yards and two touchdowns and TCU took advantage of No. 25 Houston’s missed field goal in the final minute to beat the Cougars 17-14 on Saturday.

After stopping TCU (7-4, 4-4 Big 12) on the 5 with just under two minutes remaining, Houston (8-3, 5-3) drove to the TCU 20 and had a chance to tie it, but Ethan Sanchez’s 38-yard attempt with 46 seconds remaining went wide left.

Houston coach Willie Fritz said he didn’t talk to Sanchez after the game, but he patted the kicker on his back.

“He’s won us some games, and you don’t want it to come down to a field goal,” Fritz said, adding that Sanchez, who missed a 49-yard field goal earlier in fourth quarter, “had a lot of confidence.”

TCU coach Sonny Dykes said he thought the Horned Frogs got some pressure on Sanchez off the end on the kick.

“We’re fortunate to get the win,” Dykes said. “I assumed the guy was going to make it, and we were talking about what we were going to do when we got the ball back with 40 seconds left after they kicked off. We’re putting together a script to drive down the field and kick a game-winning field goal, but fortunately, we pressured them a little bit, and he missed it.”

Nate McCashland hit a 29-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to give TCU a three-point lead.

Hoover completed 24 of 33 passes, throwing scoring passes of 33 yards to Eric McAlister and 17 yards to Jordan Dwyer in the first quarter as TCU built a 14-0 lead.

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Jeremy Payne ran for 103 yards. Joseph Manjack IV caught nine passes for 95 yards, and McAlister had four receptions for 79 yards.

TCU snapped its two-game losing streak and won its first game over a ranked opponent on the road since beating No. 18 Texas, 17-10, in Austin during the 2022 season.

Conner Weigman was 15 of 29 for 161 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 114 yards for Houston. Dean Connors ran for 75 yards and caught five passes for 47 yards and a touchdown, and Amare Thomas had five receptions for 72 yards and a score.

“We didn’t make the plays when we needed to,” Fritz said. “We had some opportunities to win it or tie it or whatever the case may be, and we didn’t do it. We’re disappointed.”

The Takeaway​

TCU: The Horned Frogs overcame four turnovers and seven penalties for 70 yards. TCU held Houston to 4 of 17 on third downs.

“We found a way to overcome four turnovers,” Dykes said. “It’s hard to win when you do that, but the only way you can do that is when you play hard and believe, and our guys did that.”

Houston: The Cougars, who were No. 23 in the CFP rankings this week, will drop out of the rankings following the loss. Houston’s slim chances of making the Big 12 Championship game ended with the loss.

Up next​

TCU: Hosts Cincinnati on Saturday in its regular-season finale.
Houston: At Baylor on Saturday in its regular-season finale.

 

[jack the frog]

“We’re fortunate to get the win,” Dykes said. “I assumed the guy was going to make it, and we were talking about what we were going to do when we got the ball back with 40 seconds left after they kicked off. We’re putting together a script to drive down the field and kick a game-winning field goal, but fortunately, we pressured them a little bit, and he missed it.”

 

[TopFrog]

“We’re fortunate to get the win,” Dykes said. “I assumed the guy was going to make it, and we were talking about what we were going to do when we got the ball back with 40 seconds left after they kicked off. We’re putting together a script to drive down the field and kick a game-winning field goal, but fortunately, we pressured them a little bit, and he missed it.”

 

[BleedNPurple]

“We’re fortunate to get the win,” Dykes said. “I assumed the guy was going to make it, and we were talking about what we were going to do when we got the ball back with 40 seconds left after they kicked off. We’re putting together a script to drive down the field and kick a game-winning field goal, but fortunately, we pressured them a little bit, and he missed it.”

Wouldn’t have had to sweat this as much if we would have kicked the freaking field goal from the 5 yard line instead of a 4th attempt to gain a yard or two on 4th down with little over two minutes left in the game.

 

[Frog Attack II]

Then UH would have had better field position to start their last drive with close to 2 mins left... Knowing they needed a TD could have chgd their play calling completely.... Then, there would be a ton of people say, "he should have went for it there .. 1 yard to ice the game". I have no issue with going for it there. I have issue with the play call and the execution and the whole issue that the game should have been put away before then.

 

[KillerFrog InD KitchenSink]

Then UH would have had better field position to start their last drive with close to 2 mins left... Knowing they needed a TD could have chgd their play calling completely.... Then, there would be a ton of people say, "he should have went for it there .. 1 yard to ice the game". I have no issue with going for it there. I have issue with the play call and the execution and the whole issue that the game should have been put away before then.

Pretty sure the win odds are to go for it in that situation. Make it, game is over. Miss it and still had 88.6% chance to win when it was 1st and 10 at the 6, according to the ESPN gamecast win odds:




Not sure what the win odds would be up 6 with a little under 2 minutes but the field goal itself carries a chance at a miss. Can't imagine it is much higher than the low 90% range.

 

[y2kFrog]

Pretty sure the win odds are to go for it in that situation. Make it, game is over. Miss it and still had 88.6% chance to win when it was 1st and 10 at the 6, according to the ESPN gamecast win odds:


View attachment 18341

Not sure what the win odds would be up 6 with a little under 2 minutes but the field goal itself carries a chance at a miss. Can't imagine it is much higher than the low 90% range.

...and we have missed multiple short FG's this year.

 

[Wexahu]

Then UH would have had better field position to start their last drive with close to 2 mins left... Knowing they needed a TD could have chgd their play calling completely.... Then, there would be a ton of people say, "he should have went for it there .. 1 yard to ice the game". I have no issue with going for it there. I have issue with the play call and the execution and the whole issue that the game should have been put away before then.

Going for it was the right call. I would have a preferred a more creative way to get the yard, I think something could’ve popped wide open if they had a run a little misdirection play or something, but honestly had they done that and it had not worked, everyone would have second guessed that.

But up 3 in that situation, you go for it 100% of the time IMO. Try to win it there. It didn’t work. Fortunately, we still won. The end.

 

[hometown frog]

I’m ok going for that late 4th down play as I thought it was the right move and the odds prob would substantiate it too.

the prob was with a qb read run behind an RB that had been getting 1-2 yards when needed. Either its qb dive under center or let one of your two RBs hit the hole coming downhill to get the game clinching 1st down. As others have said, the line was winning the LOS battle with consistency so there was no need to get cute or run misdirection. I guess if you see the defense sells out in the box, then a speed sweep from the WR in motion could have worked, but to me that’s just doing too much for that game.

right decision; wrong playcall

 

[BleedNPurple]

Going for it was the right call. I would have a preferred a more creative way to get the yard, I think something could’ve popped wide open if they had a run a little misdirection play or something, but honestly had they done that and it had not worked, everyone would have second guessed that.

But up 3 in that situation, you go for it 100% of the time IMO. Try to win it there. It didn’t work. Fortunately, we still won. The end.

Should have gone play action short pass to the right if you trust yr TE to catch the ball. Of course look at all of the scores taken off the board due to bonehead penalties.

 

[SW toad]

Should have gone play action short pass to the right if you trust yr TE to catch the ball. Of course look at all of the scores taken off the board due to bonehead penalties.

Where the heck are Rogers, Curtis, Pimpton in these situations. Coaches not understanding goal line strategy.

 

[BleedNPurple]

Where the heck are Rogers, Curtis, Pimpton in these situations. Coaches not understanding goal line strategy.

So we only have one play down at the 2 yard line- 4 rushes into the line and turn the ball over.