TCU expects better execution and fewer mistakes in match against Long Island

(Photo credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images)

TCU will look to fix a slew of mistakes and improve its running game when it hosts Long Island University in its home opener on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Horned Frogs (1-0) opened the season with a 34-27 road win over Stanford on Aug. 30. TCU trailed 24-20 with 6:57 left in the game but took the lead with a 74-yard drive that ended with a 4-yard TD pass from Josh Hoover to Jack Bech.

After holding Stanford to a stop on the next drive, the Horned Frogs clinched the victory with a 7-yard scoring run by Cam Cook with 1:31 left.

“Of course, there are things we need to sort out, but when we needed to make a play, we made it,” Hoover said.

Hoover passed for 353 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Bech caught six passes for 139 yards, and J.P. Richardson had six catches for 107 yards receiving. Combined with Savion Williams’ 85 yards, it was the first time in program history that the Horned Frogs had three receivers with at least 85 yards in the same game.

TCU outgained Stanford 457-286, while the Horned Frogs defense collected 10 tackles for loss with four sacks. But TCU also had seven penalties for 100 yards and lost two fumbles.

“We were mentally tough,” TCU coach Sonny Dykes said. “When we had to stop them, we stopped them. When we had to score touchdowns, we scored them.”

The Sharks (0-1), an FCS school playing in the Northeast Conference, head to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex after a 27-21 loss in Albany last Saturday. Luca Stanzani passed for 179 yards and three touchdowns in the loss, and Ludovick Choquette amassed 128 yards on 15 attempts and caught four passes for 22 yards and a touchdown.

Choquette’s 11-yard catch on Long Island’s first play of the second half gave the Sharks a 21-17 lead. His efforts in the season opener earned him NEC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Sharks defensive end Taveon Wheeler earned NEC Rookie of the Week honors after recording five tackles (two for loss) and one sack against the Great Danes.

“We’re definitely ahead of where we were as a football team this time last season,” said third-year LIU coach Ron Cooper. “We’re stronger and faster and we understand what we’re trying to do.”

–Field Level Media