WATCH: Derius Davis puts TCU on the board with 60-yard punt return touchdown
TCU faced an early deficit against Colorado Friday night, but Derius Davis stepped up. Just like that, the Horned Frogs has a lead.
Days took a punt return 60 yards to the house to put TCU on top 7-3 in a road showdown Friday night. It marks the first game of the Sonny Dykes era for the Horned Frogs after he left SMU to take over for Gary Patterson.
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Colorado got the scoring in the first quarter with a field goal to carry a 3-0 advantage into the second quarter. TCU’s defense held up and forced the punt, which led to Davis’ monster return.
The Horned Frogs parted ways with Patterson late in the 2021 season and hired Dykes, a former TCU analyst under Patterson, to replace him in November.
On3’s Zenitz: Chandler Morris wins TCU quarterback competition, starts vs. Colorado
Earlier Friday, On3’s Matt Zenitz reported Chandler Morris would start at quarterback for the Horned Frogs after beating out Max Duggan and Sam Jackson for the starting job.
Morris transferred to TCU from Oklahoma last season and appeared in four games for the Horned Frogs, throwing for 717 yards and three touchdowns in that span. Duggan, meanwhile, has started 29 games at TCU and was coming off a solid 2021 campaign. He completed a career-high 63.9% of his passes for 2,048 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior.
It isn’t the first time Morris has started a game. He started twice last year, including an impressive performance against Baylor. He threw for 461 yards and two touchdowns to help TCU to the 30-28 victory over the then-No. 12-ranked Bears.
During the offseason, Dykes spoke highly of what Morris brings to the table and how he can help the Horned Frogs this season.
“I know Chandler well, had a chance to watch him play at Highland Park High School when I was at SMU,” Dykes said. “He comes from a football background that’s very similar to mine. His dad was a head coach, is kind of one of those kids that grew up hanging around the Fieldhouse, just one of those guys that loves the game.”