TCU
7-2 , 3-2
New Mexico
5-5 , 3-3
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCU | 14 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 27 |
| New Mexico | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 21 |
TCU Holds Off New Mexico in Albuquerque, 27-21
11/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 11, 2006
Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery 
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Defensive end Tommy Blake returned a fumble 20 yards for a touchdown and Brian Bonner's late interception preserved TCU's 27-21 win over New Mexico on Saturday night.
Bonner's interception of a Chris Nelson pass at the TCU 9 with 22 seconds left sealed the win for TCU, which nearly squandered a 24-0 halftime lead.
The Horned Frogs (7-2, 3-2 MWC), won their fourth straight and snapped New Mexico's (5-5, 3-3) three-game winning streak.
New Mexico, which had rallied from double-digit deficits for wins over UNLV, Utah and Colorado State in its previous three games, got within 24-21 on a pair of third quarter touchdown runs by Rodney Ferguson and an 8-yard pass from backup quarterback Chris Nelson to Marcus Smith with 13:45 left in the game.
The Nelson to Smith touchdown followed a fumbled kickoff by TCU's Donald Massey, which Lobo Jason Caprioli recovered at the Frogs' 25-yard line.
Ferguson scored on a 45-yard run with less than two minutes gone in the third quarter and added a 2-yard TD run with 52 seconds left in the quarter.
After Chris Manfredini kicked a 37-yard field goal to give the Frogs a 27-21 lead, New Mexico drove to the TCU 20 on a drive in which Nelson hit Smith with back-to-back passes for 22 and 38 yards. But two holding penalties pushed the Lobos back and on third-and-18, Nelson overthrew a Lobo receiver and Bonner picked it off.
TCU, as it did last year in a 49-28 win over the Lobos in Fort Worth, took advantage of early New Mexico mistakes to build its halftime lead.
New Mexico starting quarterback Donovan Porterie fumbled the snap on the second play from scrimmage and Blake picked up the ball and returned untouched.
The Frogs scored again after Bonner returned a punt 27 yards to the New Mexico 38. Five plays and a couple of personal foul calls on the Lobos later, Lonta Hobbs scored from the 2.
New Mexico had a chance to get back in it on its next possession with a drive that reached the TCU 16. But Porterie fumbled while trying to scramble and Rafael Priest beat a couple of Lobos to the ball near the sidelines.
Bonner set up the Frogs' third touchdown of the first half with a 22-yard punt return to the New Mexico 45. Hobbs gained 21 yards on first down and Aaron Brown then beat New Mexico's secondary to the outside to score from 24 yards out.
Peter LoCoco added a 44-yard field goal with 53 seconds left in the second quarter.
In TCU's win last year, the Frogs ran up a 28-0 first quarter lead by intercepting two passes and recovering a Lobo fumble.
Porterie, who was sacked 5 times, was hurt in the third quarter.
Team Stats
TC 7, UNM 0
TC - BLAKE, Tommy 12 yd fumble recovery (MANFREDINI, Chr kick)
TC 14, UNM 0
TC - HOBBS, Lonta 2 yd run (MANFREDINI, Chr kick), 5 plays, 38 yards, TOP 1:47
TC 21, UNM 0
TC - BROWN, Aaron 24 yd run (MANFREDINI, Chr kick), 2 plays, 45 yards, TOP 0:24
TC 24, UNM 0
TC - LoCOCO, Peter 44 yd field goal 9 plays, 29 yards, TOP 3:43
TC 24, UNM 7
UNM - FERGUSON, Rodne 45 yd run (BYRD, Kenny kick), 2 plays, 51 yards, TOP 0:58
TC 24, UNM 14
UNM - FERGUSON, Rodne 2 yd run (BYRD, Kenny kick), 8 plays, 47 yards, TOP 4:31
TC 24, UNM 21
UNM - SMITH, Marcus 8 yd pass from NELSON, Chris (BYRD, Kenny kick) 6 plays, 25 yards, TOP 1:48
TC 27, UNM 21
TC - MANFREDINI, Chr 37 yd field goal 4 plays, 4 yards, TOP 2:15
