Texas Christian 28 - 21 Baylor (Final) (2 OT)

We were too tired from that game to do much of a wrap-up.  On the whole, I feel bad for Baylor, which was probably the better team on the night, but which killed itself with five turnovers -- and a huge penalty for defensive pass interference that bailed out Texas Christian in the first overtime.  On the other hand, I feel bad that Texas Christian had to play without Josh Doctson and with a banged-up Trevone Boykin.

Baylor and Texas Christian have dominated the UCFC in recent years, but somehow they can never quite manage to get a shot at the national title.  Last year, they both went 11-1, and were both left out of the NCAA's playoff.  This year, Texas Christian went 10-2, and Baylor will be 10-2 once it beats Texas on Saturday, and they are ranked 11th and 12th respectively in the playoff.  So on the one hand, this is a golden age for these two schools -- their fans have never seen these schools dominate the University of Texas as they have done in recent years.  But on the other hand, they have fallen just short of the ultimate goal.  Of course, some of us think that the UCFC is the real championship of college football, and they've done very well there.

So Baylor's reign comes to an end after only one week -- the Bears' all-time UCFC record is now 29-21-3.  Texas Christian's record is now 46-20-6.

What's up next?  Well, we have to wait for the bowl invitations to see who Texas Christian will play next.  Sports Illustrated predicts that Texas Christian will be in Orlando on December 29 to play North Carolina in the Russell Athletic Bowl (which I think should be called the Tangerine Bowl).  Fox Sports, on the other hand, has Texas Christian facing Oregon in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio on January 2.  ESPN has Texas Christian in the Alamo Bowl against either Oregon or Southern California.  We'll know for sure next week, but all of those match-ups sound promising to me.

Texas Christian 28 - 21 Baylor (Final) (2 OT)

So it all came down to a 4th and 1 for Baylor on the Texas Christian 16.  Baylor called time, and then came out in a shotgun formation.  Texas Christian called time.  Baylor went back into a more regular formation, and gave the ball to Chafin.  He was immediately set up on by a wave of Horned Frogs, and didn't come close to making a first down.  THE GAME IS OVER!  WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION:  THE TEXAS CHRISTIAN HORNED FROGS!

THE UCFC, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!

Texas Christian 28 - 21 Baylor (middle of the 2d OT)

Texas Christian is now going deep into the playbook, with reverses and trick plays all over the place.  After driving down to the 8, Boykin finally gets enough time -- and drills a touchdown pass to KaVontae Turpin of Neville H.S. in Monroe, La.

Now the pressure shifts back to Baylor.

Texas Christian 21 - 21 Baylor (end of 1st OT)

Texas Christian -- aided largely by a huge pass interference call against Baylor -- ties the game.  The scoring play was a one-yard run by Boykin.

Meanwhile, the rain continues to fall.  This game was scheduled to kickoff four and one-half hours ago, and the rain has been pouring the whole time.

Texas Christian 14 - 21 Baylor (middle of the 1st OT)

Baylor pounded the ball down to the 4, where their drive had stalled.  Facing 3d and goal from the 4, Baylor went with a JUMP PASS by Chris Johnson, who did not complete a pass in the second half.  But this pass was perfectly lofted to Chafin, and the Bears TAKE THE LEAD.

Texas Christian 14 - 14 Baylor (top of the 1st Overtime)

Texas Christian wins the toss and elects to go on defense.

Texas Christian 14 - 14 Baylor (end of 4th Quarter)

Baylor can do nothing more, and the clock runs out.

Baylor:  303 total yards, 5 turnovers
Texas Christian:  267 total yards, 2 turnovers

Chris Johnson:  6 of 23, 58 yards, 0 TD's, 1 INT
Trevone Boykin:  15 of 30, 128 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

If there were justice in the world, this game would end in a tie.  But instead, we will play overtime.

Texas Christian 14 - 14 Baylor (25 seconds left in 4th Quarter)

Baylor, sticking to its running game, blasts the ball from its own 1 out to the 35.  Now the Bears are calling time.

Texas Christian 14 - 14 Baylor (1:25 left in 4th Quarter)

Two runs for Baylor advance the ball to the 8.  With third and 3 coming up, Texas Christian calls time.

Texas Christian 14 - 14 Baylor (2:22 left in 4th Quarter)

Texas Christian gets to the Baylor 45, but can go no further.  This time, the ensuing punt is a good one.  The punter -- Ethan Perry of Smithson Valley H.S. in Spring Branch, Tex. -- hits a roller that dies at the Baylor 1.  A safety would probably win the game for Texas Christian.

Texas Christian 14 - 14 Baylor (4:44 left in 4th Quarter)

DISASTER FOR BAYLOR!  Chris Johnson botches a handoff to Chafin, and the resulting FUMBLE is recovered by Texas Christian.  The Frogs are in business from their own 45!

That is five turnovers for Baylor.  The Frogs have only two.

Texas Christian 14 - 14 Baylor (5:16 left in 4th Quarter)

Well, that was weird.  Texas Christian drove to midfield but was forced to punt.  The punter dropped the ball, and was hammered while trying to kick -- but still managed to put his foot on the ball.  The ensuing punt went about 8 yards.  Baylor will start on its own 48.

Texas Christian 14 - 14 Baylor (7:17 left in 4th Quarter)

Once again, Baylor goes three and out.  This time, the Bears punt down to the Texas Christian 10.

Texas Christian 14 - 14 Baylor (8:52 left in 4th Quarter)

As usual, Texas Christian goes three and out.  Their latest punt -- I believe it is their 11th of the game -- squirts out to the 50 yard line.

Do you realize that in the second half we have not even had a field goal attempt?

This is the first time all year, by the way, that Baylor has had two scoreless quarters in a row.

Texas Christian 14 - 14 Baylor (10:16 left in 4th Quarter)

The Bears get one first down, but only one, and they punt down to the Texas Christian 7.  It is 39 degrees in Fort Worth, it is raining extremely hard, and Trevone Boykin is trying to play on a bad ankle without Josh Doctson.  So far, the Horned Frogs have been unable to overcome those problems, but they're about to get another chance.

Texas Christian 14 - 14 Baylor (12:48 left in 4th Quarter)

As usual, Texas Christian can do nothing with the ball.   A big part of the story here is that neither team is capable of simply lining up and playing smash-mouth football -- their whole running game depends on fakes and a passing game that are simply non-existent tonight.  Baylor fields the punt at its own 37, and the Bears will start from there.

Texas Christian 14 - 14 Baylor (14:13 left in 4th Quarter)

Facing a 3d and 10 from the Texas Christian 19, Chris Johnson tried to pass -- an odd decision, given that he is 6 for 21 for only 58 yards.  But then he was hit on the arm by Josh Carraway, and HE DROPPED THE BALL.  Davion Pierson, a defensive tackle from Millwood H.S. in Oklahoma City, Okla., plopped on it at the Texas Christian 22, and the Bears had committed their FOURTH TURNOVER OF THE NIGHT.  Baylor's scoring opportunity goes by the boards, and the Frogs will start from their own 22.

Texas Christian 14 - 14 Baylor (end of 3d Quarter)

On 3d and 10 from the 35, a huge run for Baylor gives the Bears a first down.  As the quarter comes to an end, Baylor faces a 2d and 14 from the Texas Christian 23.

Texas Christian 14 - 14 Baylor (1:08 left in 3d Quarter)

Baylor gets a huge break here, as a Baylor player gets his hand on the inevitable punt, and the ball rolls dead at the Texas Christian 35.  This is by far the best scoring opportunity for either team in the second half so far.

Texas Christian 14 - 14 Baylor (2:19 left in 3d Quarter)

In all seriousness, I have not seen any football game played in this type of driving rain storm since All the Right Moves was in the theater.  And in that movie, the rains didn't really hit until the fourth quarter.  The teams have now been playing for almost three hours, and it has simply poured down in buckets the whole game.

On this possession, Baylor actually got the ball out to midfield, before a combination of rain and penalties killed their drive.  But this time, they have the edge in field position, as they punted down to the Texas Christian 5.