BCS National Championship: Texas Christian soldiers onward, defeats Oregon 45-33 to take crown

After traveling to Pasadena to beat Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, and then defeating Alabama in Atlanta, Texas Christian was able to keep it local for the National Championship game.  About 20 miles from campus, the Horned Frogs hopped down to Arlington for the Championship game at AT&T Stadium.

But Oregon’s offense also showed up in Texas, behind Heisman winner Marcus Mariota at quarterback.  With the elements of both Mariota and TCU QB Trevone Boykin, an explosive reaction took place for a Championship full of fireworks.

Oregon started the scoring with a field goal, but TCU answered on the ensuing kickoff with a 98 yard return for touchdown by Ranthony Texada that sent the Horned Frogs fans bursting into pandemonium.  Mariota marched the Ducks right back down the field, and threw an 18-yard TD pass to Byron Marshall, as Oregon took a 9-7 lead after a failed extra point.  Then Boykin drove the Horned Frogs down the field for a 42 yard Jaden Oberkrom field goal , and TCU re-took a 1 point lead.  The first frame wasn’t even over yet when Mariota hit Devon Allen for a 9-yard TD pass and Oregon was up 16-10.

But the Horned Frogs had a corner on all the second quarter scoring, on a 17 yard TD pass from Boykin to Josh Doctson, followed by a Boykin TD run from 2 yards out, and the Fort Worth fans cheered TCU into the locker room with a 24-16 lead.

The Horned Frogs continued to jump on the Ducks and the cheering continued as Boykin hit Desmon White for a 71 yard TD pass play to further extend the TCU margin.   The third quarter scoring continued as TCU added two touchdowns and Oregon added a TD and field goal, and the Frogs held a 45-26 lead going into the final 15 minute frame.

Mariota ran in another Duck TD in the fourth but it was too little too late, as #5 seed Texas Christian held off a game Duck team, winning the National Championship 45-33.  


FINAL TOURNAMENT RESULTS!:

FIRST ROUND:

In Salt Lake City:
7 Mississippi State 34
10 Boise State 35

In Detroit:
8 Michigan State 20
9 Mississippi 3
 
BCS BOWLS (Quarterfinals):

Sugar: 
1 Alabama 35
8 Michigan State 34
 
Rose: 
4 Ohio State 28
5 Texas Christian 42

Orange: 
2 Florida State 20
10 Boise State 30

Fiesta:
3 Oregon 60  
6 Baylor 41


SEMI-FINALS in Atlanta

1 Alabama 20 
5 Texas Christian 28

3 Oregon 20
10 Boise State 15
 
BCS CHAMPIONSHIP in Arlington, Texas

3 Oregon 33
5 Texas Christian 45