By Don Dowell
Enquirer contributor

Cincinnati wide receiver Cedric Dawley is tackled by TCU safety Chris Peoples in the third quarter. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

FORT WORTH, Texas - The TCU dream lives. Focused on continuing its unprecedented quest for a Bowl Championship Series appearance, 10th-ranked Texas Christian rolled over the UC Bearcats 43-10 Saturday.

The Bearcats trailed only 20-10 at halftime. But defensive end Bo Schobel sacked quarterback Gino Guidugli in the end zone early in the third quarter, causing a fumble that was recovered by Martin Patterson for a TCU touchdown, giving the Frogs a commanding 27-10 lead.

"We couldn't afford to fall behind a team like this because of their defense," UC coach Rick Minter said. "We got the three-touchdown deficit and it was really lights out."

The Bearcats have lost six of their past eight games to fall to 5-5, 2-4 in Conference USA. UC's three-year streak of earning a bowl berth is in jeopardy.

Still one victory short of becoming bowl-eligible, the Bearcats play at Memphis (7-3) and then at home against Louisville (7-3).

The ninth-ranked Horned Frogs (10-0, 7-0) are now 20-1 since losing in overtime to the Bearcats in last season's opener.

TCU wide receiver Matthew Grimmett misses the catch as Bearcats strong safety Doug Monaghan defends. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

The Frogs are sixth in the latest Bowl Championship Series standings, the highest ranking ever for a team from a non-BCS conference. If they stay in the top six, they will be guaranteed a spot in one of the four most lucrative bowl games. Fiesta Bowl representatives were at the game.

A crowd of 42,161, the 13th-largest in TCU history, celebrated the victory by tossing Tostitos bags around the stadium.

"I want to congratulate TCU and Gary Patterson," Minter added. "They will represent us well in whatever bowl game they play in.

"It was a good day for the Frogs and a bad day for the Cats."

Next for TCU is a Thursday night game at Southern Mississippi (7-3, 6-0). That game is for the outright Conference USA title.

"All we can do now is keep winning games," said Nick Browne, who kicked five field goals.

Guidugli completed 24 of 44 passes for 254 yards, including one touchdown. UC rushed for only 89 yards on 34 carries.

The Associated Press contributed.

Cincinnati	0	10	0	0-10
TCU	10	10	10	13-43

First Quarter

TCU-FG Browne 23, 5:10.

TCU-Boyd 6 blocked punt return (Browne kick), :42.

Second Quarter

TCU-FG Browne 45, 11:45.

Cin-Thomas 56 pass from Guidugli (Ervin kick), 9:20.

TCU-Hassell 22 run (Browne kick), 6:39.

Cin-FG Manfredini 24, :00.

Third Quarter

TCU-Patterson fumble recovery in end zone (Browne kick), 11:07.

TCU-FG Browne 22, 7:13.

Fourth Quarter

TCU-FG Browne 35, 13:11.

TCU-FG Browne 34, 10:16.

TCU-Merrill 19 run (Browne kick), 7:00.

A-42,161.

	Cin	TCU
First downs	22	19
Rushes-yards	34-89	38-177
Passing	284	121
Comp-Att-Int	27-52-2	9-20-2
Return Yards	47	126
Punts-Avg.	7-33.9	3-43.0
Fumbles-Lost	6-1	2-0
Penalties-Yards	9-104	8-64
Time of Possession	33:27	26:33

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Cincinnati, Arnold 13-43, Murray 5-41, Hall 7-18, Jones 1-(minus 2), Guidugli 8-(minus 11). TCU, Hassell 15-79, Merrill 12-51, Hobbs 6-27, DePriest 1-14, Connally 2-4, Rodgers 2-2.

PASSING-Cincinnati, Guidugli 24-44-2-254, Murray 3-7-0-30, team 0-1-0-0. TCU, Hassell 9-18-2-121, McCarty 0-1-0-0, Kummer 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING-Cincinnati, Lewis 8-65, Dawley 4-19, Arnold 4-(minus 5), Ross 3-41, Thomas 2-67, Daniels 2-54, Lucius 2-7, Celek 1-32, Koester 1-4. TCU, Galbert 2-28, Grimmett 2-28, Harrell 1-29, Harmon 1-14, Andrus 1-11, Moss 1-9, Rodgers 1-2.