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TCU touchdown celebration oddly broken up by ref

Barkley-Truaxby: Barkley Truax09/02/25BarkleyTruax
TCU Helmet
Denny Medley | Imagn Images

A referee broke up a TCU touchdown celebration during the Horned Frogs’ season opener against North Carolina on Monday night. TCU was celebrating their first score of the season when the official came between the players.

QB Josh Hoover connected with WR Jordan Dwyer for a 27-yard touchdown to tie the game in the first quarter. Dwyer and his teammate were dapping each other up when the ref halted the fun.

The next time the Horned Frogs found themselves on the board — the flag was actually thrown. TCU’s Bud Clark intercepted North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez and walked it in for a 25-yard touchdown. The score improved TCU’s lead to 17-7. They pushed that to 20-7 by the end of the second quarter.

Amid the excitement from TCU’s players on the field and sideline, they were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. The penalty was enforced on the ensuing kickoff, but the Horned Frogs extended their lead to two scores before halftime.

The ESPN broadcast didn’t show what caused the flag to be thrown, but it appeared that the Carolina defense met in the end zone to celebrate together. While that makes just one flag, that’s twice after two touchdown plays that the officials were all over the Horned Frogs in the end zone.

North Carolina struck first, driving the ball 83 yards on seven plays capped by a Caleb Hood touchdown run. For the rest of the half, they went just 20 yards across 17 plays.

Despite this, TCU finished the first half out-gaining the Tar Heels 247 yards to 103. Quarterback Josh Hoover was efficient, completing 20 of 25 passes for 193 yards, one touchdown and an interception. They also added 54 yards on the ground.

For North Carolina, QB Gio Lopez finished the first half completing two of his six passing attempts for 58 yards and a pick-six. Both receptions went to the same receiver, Jordan Shipp. The Tar Heels added 45 yards on the ground as well.

TCU went on to score three touchdowns in the first 10 minutes of the third quarter, effectively putting the game out of reach before it was over. The Horned Frogs will move forward and look to improve to 2-0 when TCU hosts Abilene Christian during Week 3.

They’ll enjoy an early Week 2 bye following their blowout performance against the Tar Heels. TCU opens Big 12 play against Arizona State on Sept. 26.