MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — TCU hasn’t needed to go very far yet this season. In fact, the longest trip the Horned Frogs have made is the equivalent of driving from Morgantown to Huntington.
Through six games, TCU hasn’t left the friendly confines of Texas, with four home games and two road trips to Baylor and Texas.
Their first time leaving the Lone Star State will be this weekend, and it happens to be the longest road trip of the season not only for TCU, but most of the Big 12 — a date with WVU at Milan Puskar Stadium.
The Horned Frogs started the season at 1-3 but are playing their best football right now, winners of two straight against Baylor and Texas Tech. The Mountaineers, meanwhile, are coming off a 17-13 loss at No. 21 Texas, but return home where they are 4-0 this season.
Much of the story is the same for TCU, especially under head coach Gary Patterson in his 21st season at the helm for the Horned Frogs.
“I think Gary Patterson is the best defensive coach in the country,” WVU coach Neal Brown said. “I would say that if we weren’t playing him this week. I mean that over a long period of time, especially playing in this conference since 2012. It is really impressive and I have a lot of respect for how he has run his program and what he has done in Fort Worth.”
What may surprise many is TCU’s offense, led by sophomore quarterback Max Duggan. While Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger gets credit for being one of the most diverse and hard-nosed in the country, Brown likened Duggan’s skill set with Ehlinger’s.
Even more shocking is Duggan is fourth in the Big 12 in rushing yards per game — behind Iowa State’s Breece Hall, WVU’s Leddie Brown and Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard — at 68 yards.
At 6-foot-2 and 201 pounds, Duggan is dangerous when he escapes the pocket. Look no further than last week against Texas Tech when he ran for 154 yards and three touchdowns, including an 81-yard scamper.
“You’ve got to prepare for quarterback run game, whether it’s designed runs where they’re calling it, whether it’s in the pass game where he pulls the ball down and scrambles,” Brown said. “You’ve got to put yourself in those situations in practice. It makes it more difficult, though. You have to put at least one more hat in the box, whether it’s your nickel or your safety, you’ve got to get another guy in the box to help account for him.”
While Duggan shredded Texas Tech on the ground, he struggled putting the ball in the air. He completed less than 50% of his passes for just 73 yards and no touchdowns, while throwing an interception. Total on the season, Duggan has just five touchdown tosses.
However, secondary coach Jahmile Addae hopes his defense is fooled by the numbers.
“He is a factor in their run game and he is elite at it,” Addae said. “You can see a few clips where he is taking the ball 60-plus yards vertically down the middle of the field against really good defenses. Hats off to them for understanding that he has the ability to hurt defenses there and utilize him in that way. But he is also able to make the throws. He is really poised in the pocket.”
There was a point in August many weren’t sure Duggan would be able to play football again. During TCU’s COVID-19 testing procedures, it was discovered he had a lifelong heart condition that required surgery to repair, sidelining him for weeks.
Fortunately, the procedure went well and Duggan hasn’t missed a game this season.
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