Horned Frogs’ offense can’t come through in Fiesta Bowl loss to Boise State

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Offense sputters as TCU loses the big one

GLENDALE, Ariz. — TCU’s defense was supposed to make the difference against Boise State. Instead, a lack of offense did.

Andy Dalton was intercepted three times in the Horned Frogs’ first leap onto the big stage. One was returned 51 yards for a touchdown, one set the stage for Boise State’s game-winning drive and the third ended any TCU hopes with 18 seconds to play.

The result was a frustrating 17-10 loss to the Broncos in the Fiesta Bowl on Monday night.

It was the lowest-scoring game of the season for the Frogs, who had scored no fewer than 42 points in their previous seven contests.

Boise State, the nation’s highest-scoring team at 44.2 points per game, managed to get just 10 points on offense, and needed a fake punt to keep the deciding drive alive. But the Frogs couldn’t even keep up with that.

TCU ended a tremendous season at 12-1, but the loss to the Western Athletic Conference champion Broncos in a matchup of non-BCS unbeatens was tough to swallow.

The ground game virtually didn’t exist, with the Frogs gaining 36 yards on 20 carries.

The only other times the Mountain West Conference champions scored fewer than 30 points this season were in a 13-10 victory at Clemson and a 20-17 win at Air Force.

Dalton completed 25 of 44 passes for 272 yards, including a 30-yarder to Curtis Clay for a touchdown that cut Boise State’s lead to 10-7 just before halftime.

A 29-yard field goal by Ross Evans tied it at 10 in the third quarter.

Twice TCU threatened late. But Dalton threw incomplete on fourth-and-6 at the Boise State 27. The Broncos pinned the Frogs at their 1-yard line.

But Dalton directed a last-minute drive that moved the ball to the Broncos 30.

It all ended when Dalton threw to the sidelines, where cornerback Brandyn Thomas went up with receiver Antoine Hicks. The ball tipped into the air and Boise State’s Winston Venable intercepted.

It was a big night for Thomas, who was beaten on the TCU touchdown pass but had the first two interceptions.

TCU had entered the game ranked fourth and a seven-point favorite. Boise State was No. 6.