FORT WORTH, Texas — A challenge from his coach and a bone-rattling block from a teammate who lost his helmet in the process was all Jeremy Kerley needed.
The result was the end of TCU’s seven-year drought without a punt return for a touchdown — a span of 89 games. Kerley’s 71-yard score put the 11th-ranked Horned Frogs ahead to stay in a 39-14 victory over rival SMU on Saturday night.
“After that block from Tanner (Brock), I saw the end zone. I wasn’t going to be denied,” Kerley said. “For your head coach to tell you you’re overdue, it will push you a little bit.”
Kerley sprinted up the right sideline, got the block from Brock near midfield and shredded several tacklers before cutting back to the middle of the field. Kerley then pinballed off a defender and a teammate into the end zone five minutes before halftime.
The block by Brock took out two defenders, and left the freshman on the ground without his helmet.
“He might have sprung him for the touchdown,” coach Gary Patterson said.
Antoine Hicks had a 2-yard TD run and caught a 28-yard scoring pass from Andy Dalton for TCU, which averted a repeat of four years ago against SMU (2-2).
A week after winning at Oklahoma four years ago, TCU was in turn upset in the Dallas-Fort Worth rivalry known as the “Battle for the Iron Skillet.” The Frogs were coming off another significant nonconference road victory last week, 14-10 at Clemson.
“Our main focus coming in was to not let that happen again,” said linebacker Daryl Washington, who had five tackles, two sacks and an interception.
San Diego St. 34, N.M. State 17
SAN DIEGO — Freshman halfback Walter Kazee rushed for 101 yards on 22 carries and scored a touchdown to power the Aztecs, who scored half of their points in the final seven minutes with the help of Kazee’s TD carry and a scoring pass by Ryan Lindley to Willie Watters.
The Aztecs’ Vincent Brown, who came into the game No. 3 in the nation in receiving yards, caught three passes for 84 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown.
Nevada 63, UNLV 28
RENO, Nev. — Freshman Mike Ball ran for 184 yards and five touchdowns, Colin Kaepernick rushed for 173 yards and Luke Lippincott 170 to lead Nevada to its first win of the season and fifth in a row over rival UNLV.
Kaepernick added 200 yards passing for the Wolf Pack (1-3), which never punted in the game.
The Associated Press
