TCU Football: 3 takeaways from statement win at Purdue in Week 3

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - SEPTEMBER 14: Members of the TCU Horned Frogs celebrate with Al'Dontre Davis #80 of the TCU Horned Frogs after a touchdown during the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on September 14, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

3. Ground game leads the way for TCU offense

TCU simply overpowered Purdue at the point of the attack, using their potent ground game to run roughshod on the Boilermakers. The Horned Frogs finished with 346 rushing yards and three touchdowns as a team, a big reason why they held possession for more than 40 minutes against their hosts.

Darius Anderson dominated in the road rout. The veteran back piled up 179 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on just 16 carries, averaging more than 11 yards per carry in the process. Anderson added a pair of receptions for 13 yards as he came close to breaking the 200-yard mark in all-purpose yardage.

Sewo Olonilua also broke the 100-yard mark on the ground, finishing the day with 18 carries for 106 yards and a score. Emari Demercado contributed 33 yards on six carries, Max Duggan added 20 yards on 18 runs, and Jalen Reagor added three carries for 11 yards.

All told, the ground game was critical to TCU’s success in West Lafayette. And, given the way the passing game performed against Purdue, the rushing attack is going to have to carry the load moving forward. That is a lot of pressure to put on the backfield, but the group seems ready to shoulder the burden.

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