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UH vs. TCU: FORT WORTH, Texas -- The first thing University of Hawaii defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa wanted to know as he walked out of the locker room was how many yards did LaDainian Tomlinson gain in today's football game.
First it’s close,
then a runaway
TCU running back
Injuries, penalties, errors hurt UH
LaDainian Tomlinson gains
294 yards and scores 4 TDsBy Paul Arnett
Star-BulletinThe reply shocked him.
"He had 294 yards?'' he asked, a stunned expression spreading across his face.
"On 49 carries?'' Lempa asked again, just to make sure he had heard correctly. "I knew it was bad, but I had no idea he gained that many.''
The Heisman Trophy candidate led Texas Christian to a 41-21 victory over the Warriors. The loss dropped Hawaii to 0-4 and out of any contention for a Western Athletic Conference title or a postseason appearance.
"It was disappointing because we thought we had a game plan that could control him,'' Lempa said. "Obviously, we failed. Penalties and breakdowns in defending the option killed us. We did some things right, just not enough of them.''
TCU did more than its fair share correctly as the No. 14-ranked Frogs continued to make a run for the Bowl Championship Series. Tomlinson carried TCU on his back as he rushed for 196 yards on 31 carries in the first half alone."It was just another day, but we felt like we could run on them,'' Tomlinson conceded. He broke his own mark for carries in a game and his four touchdowns made him TCU's all-time leading scorer with 264 points.
"My o-line did a great job of giving me room to run,'' Tomlinson said. "I kind of wish I could have gained 300 yards, but the important thing is getting the win. We want to be among the top teams and play in a New Year's Day bowl game.''
UH head coach June Jones believes TCU is a Top 5 program in the making and sees nobody tripping up the Frogs the rest of the season.
The win gives TCU a 5-0 mark. It's the 10th consecutive victory for the Horned Frogs, dating back to a win at Hawaii last year and is currently the second-longest streak in the country. It marks the first time TCU has won its opening five games since 1942.
"This is a very good football team,'' Jones said. "We played hard, but we continue to make too many mistakes. You can't do that against a team like this and expect to win. You have to play error-free to stay in it.
"Tomlinson's a big-time running back who makes plays. They have him in a good scheme that allows him to be the focus of their offense. You might know what's coming, but they execute it so well, it doesn't matter.''
Poor special teams play
As for Hawaii, turnovers, penalties and poor special teams play continue to plague the program. The Warriors were flagged seven times for 58 yards. Several led to TCU scores, something that not only bothers the coaches, but the players as well."We keep shooting ourselves in the foot,'' defensive end Chris Brown said. "Some of them were so silly and some we didn't even know what we did wrong. The referees are calling them close on us. We have to do a better job of keeping our cool.''
Hawaii played it cool in the early going, using a variety of trick plays on offense that kept it close in the first half.
Flea-flicker on the first play
The Warriors wasted little time reaching into that bag, putting TCU behind for the first time this season. On the game's first play, freshman quarterback Timmy Chang handed off to Avion Weaver who took a step forward, before turning to flip the football back to Chang on the classic flea-flicker.Slotback Channon Harris was all alone at midfield as he waited for Chang's pass to find him. He took it down to the TCU 22 for a 58-yard gain.
On the next play, Chang faked it to Weaver -- who later went out with an injury -- and found Harris wide open for a 22-yard touchdown pass to give the Warriors a 7-0 advantage just 46 seconds into the game.
But Tomlinson scored two quick touchdowns -- both aided by poor special teams play -- to put the Warriors on their heels.
Hawaii wouldn't go quietly, however, as the Warriors marched 75 yards on five plays, including a 33-yard touchdown pass from Chang to Ashley Lelie to tie the score at 14 with 3:43 left in the opening quarter.
TCU responded by scoring 27 unanswered points, including a pair of TD runs by Tomlinson, to erase any doubt of an upset.
Chang completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Lelie in the fourth quarter but, by then, the game was decided. He hit 18 of 44 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns.
"It was cold today,'' said Chang, the chill factor dipped to near freezing, "but I didn't think it affected the outcome of the game. I just didn't do a good enough job. We had too many three-and-outs (seven), and that was the difference. Our defense was on the field too long.''
TCU finished with nearly 500 yards in total offense. Hawaii managed only 384 total yards, including a meager 152 in the second half.
"I still think we can play a little better,'' TCUhead coach Dennis Franchione said. "We didn't play that well, but we won. And that's what counts.
"That's a nice situation to be in. Not every team has that. We're 5-0 for the first time since 1942 and we're proud of that.
"We never put ourselves in jeopardy in the second half.''
2000 UH Football Special
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu