Brock Bowers was part of a Georgia offensive onslaught that left Millard Bradford and TCU overwhelmed in the national title game (The Associated Press/Ashley Landis).By Jamie Plunkett
Frogs Today staff writer
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – It’s hard to wake up from a dream, but that’s what happened on Monday night, as TCU fell flat in the national championship.
The Frogs couldn’t keep up with Georgia at SoFi Stadium, falling to the Bulldogs 65-7.
Instead of the storybook ending, TCU watched red and white confetti fall from the rooftop of SoFi stadium as Georgia celebrated their second consecutive national championship.
Turnovers and an outmatched defense haunted TCU, as Georgia simply asserted itself in every way it wanted.
Georgia quarterback and Heisman finalist Stetson Bennett accounted for six touchdowns before being replaced by his backup Carson Beck early in the fourth quarter. Bennett’s best target all year, tight end Brock Bowers, made a profound statement with 152 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Earlier in the week TCU coach Sonny Dykes compared Bowers to Rob Gronkowski, who Dykes coached at Arizona. Bowers lived up to that comparison on Monday night, consistently getting open against everything TCU threw at him.
Meanwhile, Max Duggan struggled in his final performance as a Horned Frog. The Heisman finalist threw two first-half interceptions, both of which resulted in Georgia touchdowns.
Duggan was consistently under pressure, too. TCU’s offensive line struggled against Georgia’s front,
A Derius Davis fumble early in the first quarter also cost the Frogs, giving Georgia a short field that resulted in a field goal.
Those 17 points off turnovers weren’t the ultimate dagger, but they were part of the python-like death squeeze Georgia applied to the Frogs throughout the contest.
The Frogs’ lone touchdown of the day came on their second possession. Duggan found Davis open down the field for a 60-yard gain to the Georgia 11-yard line.
Three plays later Duggan ran it in off the left edge of the line, bringing the Frogs to within a field goal, 10-7.
From there it was all Georgia. The Bulldogs scored touchdowns on their final four possessions of the half to hold a 38-7 lead at the break.
The second half was more of the same, with the Bulldogs scoring at will against a TCU defense that was simply outmatched.
TCU finishes the season 13-2, with a Fiesta Bowl trophy for their troubles.
Now, Dykes and his staff turn their attention to 2023, where the Frogs will look to replace a multitude of key players as they try to work their way back to the College Football Playoff again.
Jamie Plunkett, jamie@frogstoday.com
