Horned Frogs keep punter clean

Anson Kelton didn't get the night off after all.

The senior punter for Texas Christian usually doesn't have much to do. Heading into the fourth-ranked Horned Frogs' game with UNLV at Sam Boyd Stadium on Saturday, Kelton had been used just 25 times in the eight games played this season.

Last week, he could have gone to the TCU library, as he wasn't even needed in the Horned Frogs' 45-3 win over Air Force. By comparison, UNLV's Brendon Lamars had punted 43 times in seven games.

Kelton only got on the field once in TCU's 48-6 rout of the Rebels. His lone punt midway through the first quarter went 36 yards.

TCU's ability to dominate both sides of the ball this year in posting a 9-0 record has reduced Kelton to making cameo appearances. That was indicative again Saturday as the defense gave the offense good field position all night, and the Horned Frogs took full advantage, constantly driving deep into UNLV territory.

The only times TCU was stopped was when it fumbled. The Horned Frogs coughed it up once at the goal line and once at the UNLV 20.

"I think we did what we needed to do," TCU coach Gary Patterson said. "We weren't at our best on both sides of the ball, but given how late the game was, I thought we might not be as sharp."

With the Horned Frogs gearing up for their Mountain West Conference showdown next week against No. 8 Utah in Salt Lake City, Patterson said he didn't feel compelled to reach into his bag of tricks. The less he showed Utes coach Kyle Whittingham, the better.

A lot of good that did first-year UNLV coach Bobby Hauck. Despite knowing that Patterson had dumbed down the playbook, his defense was still powerless to stop quarterback Andy Dalton and the TCU offense.

Dalton, who averages 24 attempts per game, threw 23 times, completing 16 for 252 yards and two touchdowns before giving way to Casey Pachall early in the fourth quarter.

"They know us," Patterson said of the Utes. "There's no hiding. We did pretty much what we usually do."

TCU, which relies on the run first, pounded away at a beat-up UNLV defense. And as with their eight previous victims, the Horned Frogs simply wore down the Rebels, though Patterson gave UNLV some credit.

"UNLV was pretty physical," Patterson said. "They got after us."

But not enough to see more of Kelton, who probably didn't even need to get his uniform washed.

The Horned Frogs can only hope he's not needed much against the Utes.

"It's always good when your punter doesn't have to play," Patterson said.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.