No. 11 TCU nips Boise State, 17-16
SAN DIEGO — Boise State's tricks were no match for TCU's speedy, aggressive defense.
Plus, the Horned Frogs had L.T. on their side.
Joseph Turner scored on a 17-yard run midway through the fourth quarter to give the No. 11 Horned Frogs their first lead of the night, which they preserved for a 17-16 victory over No. 9 Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl.
"We just wore them down. They can't last forever," Turner said.
Boise State (12-1) was trying to finish 13-0 for the second time in three seasons.
"It's OK — you're not going to win every time," BSU coach Chris Petersen said. "As long as you learn from it and become better for it down the road, we can live with that."
It was the second time in five years BSU lost a chance at a perfect season by losing its bowl game. In 2004, it lost to Louisville in the Liberty Bowl to finish 11-1.
The Broncos took a 10-0 lead on Ian Johnson's 20-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter, but their high-scoring offense bogged down against TCU's tough defense.
TCU (11-2) piled up yards if not points until finally wearing down the Broncos' defense in the fourth quarter. The Horned Frogs moved 80 yards in 10 plays on the winning drive, with Turner finishing it off by shedding a tackle inside the 5-yard line and diving into the end zone for a 17-13 lead.
LaDainian Tomlinson, the former TCU standout who's in his eighth season with the San Diego Chargers, jumped in celebration and pumped his fist near the TCU bench.
It was a good night to be a Horned Frog — current and past.
"Two top defenses, two top offenses in the nation, we just wanted it more," TCU running back Aaron Brown said.
There wouldn't be a crazy, victorious finish for Johnson and the Broncos as there was two years ago in their memorable, highly entertaining overtime win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.
"They had better athletes than we've ever seen," Johnson said. "They played with so much heart. You didn't look over there one time and say, 'We broke them.'"
