The No. 22 Horned Frogs gave up some yards before halftime, but not any points all day in a 27-0 victory over Baylor - the first of three former Southwest Conference rivals TCU plays in the opening month of the season.
Andy Dalton threw for 205 yards and a touchdown in his first college start, and Justin Watts and Ryan Christian ran for scores as the Frogs won their ninth straight game. Chris Manfredini kicked two field goals after missing wide right with a 29-yard attempt on the opening drive.
Blake was held out after two extended absences from the team. The two-time All-Mountain West Conference selection and top NFL prospect was away on a medical leave with an undisclosed illness last week before rejoining the Frogs for their walkthrough Friday. He has practiced only three times since going home for a week for personal reasons in mid-August.
Blake was seen in the first half watching from a patio outside coach Gary Patterson’s office above the south end zone. His status for next Saturday’s game at No. 4 Texas is uncertain.
The Frogs had three of their four interceptions in the second half, when they held Baylor to only 78 yards. Baylor had 204 yards in the first half.
Chase Ortiz, TCU’s other All-MWC defensive end, got to quarterback Blake Szymanski and knocked the ball loose on the first play after halftime. The play was initially called a fumble that the Frogs recovered. Even though the play was overturned and ruled an incomplete pass after being reviewed, the tone was set for the second half.
Baylor was shut out for the first time since 2005, when it was blanked in consecutive games against Texas Tech (28-0) and Texas (62-0).
Linebacker Jason Phillips made a nifty pickoff early in the fourth quarter, reaching back to grab Szymanski’s pass thrown behind the intended receiver. Phillips returned it 34 yards to the Baylor 20, setting up Dalton’s 14-yard TD pass to Ervin Dickerson that made it 24-0.
Dalton was 18-for-30 passing, but had an interception and a fumble. He lost the ball at the Baylor 1 on a keeper late in the first quarter.
Szymanski was 23-of-47 passing for 216 yards with three of the interceptions.
Watts (1 yard) and Christian (12 yards) scored in the second quarter to give TCU a 14-0 lead.
Both teams had missed field goals on their first drives. Baylor’s Shea Brewster also missed a 35-yard kick in the third quarter.
TCU has won its last five games against Big 12 teams, a streak that started with a season-opening victory at Oklahoma in 2005. Baylor hasn’t had a winning season since the SWC disbanded after the 1995 season.
