By BRANDON GEORGE Associated Press
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — TCU appears to have finally settled on a primary quarterback. True freshman Max Duggan made his second consecutive start Saturday and was near-flawless in a 51-14 victory over Kansas to open Big 12 play.
Duggan led touchdown drives on all three of his first-half possessions – helping TCU to a 38-0 halftime lead – and finished 8-for-11 passing for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
Duggan shared time with graduate transfer Alex Delton the first two games before playing all but one snap last week in a loss to rival SMU. Duggan likely would have played more against Kansas (he played only the first two possessions of the second half) had the Jayhawks ever threatened.
Instead, TCU (3-1, 1-0) dominated in every area of the first half against Kansas (2-3, 0-2), which ended a 48-game road losing streak to Power 5 opponents earlier this season at Boston College.
The Jayhawks had only 55 yards on 34 plays heading into the fourth quarter and lost their 46th consecutive Big 12 road game. Kansas’ last Big 12 road win came Oct. 4, 2008 at Iowa State.
“That is who we are,” Kansas first-year coach Les Miles said. “This program is not built in a day. It will take some work and we are ready to do that work.
“I did not lose spirit in this team, and I don’t think this team did either. It was a man’s chore to get that team stopped.”
TCU was locked in from the opening kickoff, coming off a home loss to rival SMU a week ago that knocked the Horned Frogs out of the Top 25. TCU had some extra motivation as well after losing last year at Kansas.
“Everybody was practicing hard this week,” TCU cornerback Jeff Gladney said, “and you could tell.”
Delton replaced Duggan midway through the second quarter with the Horned Frogs in full control at 28-0. Delton, who played last year at Kansas State, led TCU on two scoring drives to end the first half. The Horned Frogs scored on every first-half possession.
Kansas: The Jayhawks were overmatched in every phase and didn’t show much fight after a dismal first quarter. Quarterback Carter Stanley struggled with his accuracy, finishing 12-for-29 passing for only 84 yards.
TCU: Patterson must have gotten the Horned Frogs’ attention in practice this week. TCU converted all 10 of its third-down attempts in the first half. TCU made it look easy all day despite missing four receivers with injuries.
CORNERBACK DEPTH CONCERNS
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Kansas returns home against No. 6 Oklahoma on Saturday.
TCU will play its first Big 12 road game at Iowa State on Saturday.