Legendary TCU coach Dutch Meyer once said “Fight ‘em until hell freezes over, then fight ‘em on the ice.”
Through snow and wind in the second half, the TCU defense stayed hot enough to hold Wyoming and come out with a 31-20 win.
Despite five turnovers, three inside the red zone, the TCU defense held the Cowboys to just three second-half points.
"We were lucky," head coach Gary Patterson said. "You've got to protect the football. We didn't do a good job of that. We won't be able to win the game next week if we don't protect the football."
The Frogs got things going when Matthew Tucker punched in a touchdown just three minutes into the game.
Wyoming would answer with 10 straight points to gain a 10-7 lead.
The Frogs answered back on the next drive. Ed Wesley ran in a touchdown from two yards out to make it 14-10.
The Cowboys answered back with a long touchdown drive to tie the game with two minutes remaining.
The Frogs answered by driving the ball down to the 1-yard line, but Casey Pachall threw an interception in the end zone. Wyoming took a knee to end the half.
Patterson said it was the turnover he was most mad about.
"You can't turn the ball over in the red zone. You have to at least get a field goal."
Wyoming started off the 2nd half with a field goal. TCU again answered by driving down to the Wyoming red zone, but again turned the ball over. Matt Tucker had the ball stripped inside the 5-yard line.
After a defensive stop, the Frogs got it together with a 10 play, 80-yard drive and an Ed Wesley touchdown to make it 24-20.
The Frogs added another touchdown early in the 4th to make it 31-20, which would be the last score of the game.
Waymon James finished with a career-high 181 yards and his fellow running backs Wesley and Tucker added 120 and 90 yards respectively and two touchdowns each. Casey Pachall finished 17-24 for 227 yards.
Early in the 4th quarter, Tank Carder has a monstrous hit on Wyoming's freshman quarterback Brett Smith. After a few minutes, Smith had to be helped off the field and did not return.
Carder said it really changed the momentum of the game.
"It's awesome that I was a part of that and able to do that for us so that we can get a win and come out here and go into Boise undefeated in conference."
Looking ahead to Boise State
Post-game interviews were short as the Frogs headed back to Denver to fly back home.
In his interview, Patterson said they wouldn't even watch the game; they would get on the bus and start preparing for Boise State.
Injuries
The Frogs were without starting safety Tekerrein Cuba, freshman wide receiver Brandon Carter and corner back Trey Battle-Smith. Patterson said Cuba will be back for next week's game at Boise State and could have played today. He said Brandon Carter will likely be back as well.
