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TCU vs. West Virginia: Can Horned Frogs Stop An Old Friend at Homecoming?
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- TCU vs. West Virginia: Can Horned Frogs Stop An Old Friend at Homecoming?
TCU just achieved a win in their rivalry game against Baylor, an outing showing the Frogs can win in the Big 12.
Now they have to do it again Saturday ... by stopping an old friend.
This Homecoming showdown with West Virginia brings a completely different challenge, along with a familiar face who could make life miserable for the Horned Frogs.
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Former TCU running back Cam Cook returns to Fort Worth as one of the Big 12's most productive offensive weapons when the Horned Frogs (3-3, 1-2 Big 12) host West Virginia (4-3, 1-3) at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN2.
Cook has rushed for 833 yards this season, giving the Mountaineers a dangerous ground attack that TCU must contain to secure consecutive conference victories.
Coach Sonny Dykes' team enters following an encouraging 17-6 victory over Baylor, holding the Bears without a touchdown while limiting their rushing attack to just 54 yards.
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West Virginia approaches the matchup with a highly productive offense that has been averaging 497.1 yards per game. The Mountaineers have reached their success due to a strong rushing game, averaging 272.4 yards per game.
The offense also has quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., boasting a stat sheet of 1,519 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and one interception while completing 57.6% of his passes.
And when TCU has the ball?
Quarterback Jaden Craig has 1,694 passing yards, with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 66.8% of his passes. Craig will need to utilize wide receiver Ed Small, who has 494 receiving yards on 35 catches and two touchdowns.
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TCU will need to produce more from its running game. Jeremy Payne has a record of 429 rushing yards on 88 carries and two touchdowns.
The Frogs need to find a balance between running and passing while avoiding costly turnovers. If Craig can utilize Small and Payne as weapons, TCU may get the chance to put a few TD's on the board against West Virginia.
Will a packed stadium and lots of purple offer an extra boost of energy on the way to two wins in a row?
We begin to find out with an 11 a.m. kickoff Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
'A Different Challenge...' TCU's Sonny Dykes Ahead of West Virginia Showdown
