“Season 35, Game 5

Patience is the key to victory - desperation for good measure

TCU going into this match grounded after the draw from last week while CSUN is still unbeaten up to that point. And although the Matadors are down almost 500K in team value, they proved earlier this season that bare figures won't stop them.

The second-year team elects to receive the kick-off in first half and is surprised that they won't have to face the Horned Rats' Rat Ogre during their offense. One of many bold and risky trick plays the seasoned veteran rat coach will pull out of his hat in this match. The Matadors go for a slow, careful grind and try to grind down the rats. At some point, they get a little bit to grindy and set-up a gang-foul, but the Ref is, for most parts of the game, on spot! The Horned Rats take advantage of the distraction and sack the ball carrier Alicia Devine who has to leave the pitch with a serious concussion. A lucky bounce later, with some more blocks and a hand-off to Justin Rogers, the rats have the ball on the other side of the pitch, with no Matadors in range to stop the defensive touchdown before halftime. 1-0 TCU when the Ref blows the whistle.

Second half the Horned Rats set-up for a quick score, but the Matadors' coach chooses to blitz! and catches the rats on the wrong foot. TCU falls back deeper and deeper while the Matadors intensify the pressure. Additionally, they hunt down any possible receiver that tries to sneak into their half of the pitch. The Horned Rats bend, but don't break. They move the ball forward, they scratch, bite, dodge and punt... and finally Julius Lewis walks in a very lucky 2-0 lead. The Matadors get two more turns, but are demoralized and can't get done anything but a successful pass.

In the end TCU found the right mix of coolness and desperation and take away the fourth win of the season, Matadors are downed, but definitely not out of the race for a good bowl game.”