Josh Hoover passed for 263 yards and rushed for a touchdown to help TCU post a 13-7 victory over Utah in Big 12 play on Saturday night at Salt Lake City.
Savion Williams rushed for 72 yards on seven carries as the Horned Frogs (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) won for just the second time in their past five games.
Bud Clark notched a key interception and Devean Deal had two sacks for TCU. Hoover completed 22 of 41 passes.
Isaac Wilson connected on 17 of 33 passes for 199 yards, one touchdown and one interception for the Utes (4-3, 1-3). Money Parks had a touchdown reception for Utah, which dropped its third straight game.
Wilson made his fourth start of the season. He is now the full-time starter after Cameron Rising sustained a season-ending right lower-leg injury on Oct. 11 against Arizona State.
The Utes were just 2 of 15 on third-down conversions, failed to convert on fourth down twice and punted on 11 of their 14 possessions.
TCU was just 4 of 17 on third-down conversions while holding a 395-267 advantage in total yards.
Utah punted on each of its first nine possessions and trailed 13-0 before striking with a big play just past the midway point of the third quarter.
Parks ran a post pattern and Wilson delivered the pass on the money. Parks caught it at the TCU 25-yard line and finished off a 71-yard scoring play to bring the Utes within 13-7.
The Utes crept past midfield twice in the fourth quarter before failing to convert on fourth down each time.
First, Utah had fourth-and-2 on at the Horned Frogs’ 48-yard line, but Wilson’s deep throw was intercepted by Clark with 6:58 left.
The next time the Utes had possession, they were facing fourth-and-5 from the TCU 43. Wilson again threw deep, but the pass intended for Brant Kuithe fell incomplete and the Horned Frogs took over with 2:35 remaining.
TCU faced its own fourth-and-1 with 2:17 left. Williams took a direct snap and gained 2 yards to the Utah 46 for the first down, and the Horned Frogs ran out the clock.
TCU outgained Utah 242-86 in the first half while building a 10-0 lead.
Kyle Lemmermann kicked a 23-yard field goal with 13:29 left in the second quarter for the first points of the game. Hoover’s 1-yard keeper increased the lead to 10 with seven minutes remaining in the half.
Lemmermann booted a 28-yard field goal to make it 13-0 with 9:32 to go in the third quarter.
–Field Level Media
