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Pachall, TCU beat Bulldogs in Poinsettia Bowl

TCU’s Skye Dawson beats Chad Boyd for the deciding 42-yard TD reception in Wednesday’s 31-24 win. (Associated Press)
Bernie Wilson Associated Press
TCU’s Skye Dawson beats Chad Boyd for the deciding 42-yard TD reception in Wednesday’s 31-24 win. (Associated Press)

SAN DIEGO – Casey Pachall and the TCU Horned Frogs are headed to the Big 12 Conference on an eight-game winning streak.

Pachall highlighted a record-setting game with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Skye Dawson with 4:26 left to lift No. 16 TCU to a 31-24 victory against Louisiana Tech in the Poinsettia Bowl on Wednesday night.

It was the eighth straight victory for Mountain West Conference champion TCU (11-2), which moves to the Big 12 next year.

It was the third time this season TCU overcame a fourth-quarter deficit to win, including 36-35 at Boise State on Nov. 12, the only loss for the Broncos, who play Arizona State tonight in the MAACO Bowl.

“It feels great because it’s going to give us a lot of momentum,” Pachall said. “As a young team, no one expected us to get this far.”

Pachall was 15 of 29 for 206 yards. He set school single-season records with 228 completions, 2,921 yards and a completion percentage of 66.5, breaking marks held by Andy Dalton.

On the winning play, the sophomore took the snap in the shotgun and Dawson ran past safety Chad Boyd to pull in the long pass.

Pachall said he changed the play when he saw a blitz coming.

“It was a great catch by Skye and a touchdown,” Pachall said.

“Once I saw single coverage, I pretty much knew I could get by the guy,” Dawson said. “You have to secure the ball and get in the end zone.”

TCU is 3-0 in the Poinsettia Bowl.

Western Athletic Conference champion Louisiana Tech (8-5) had its seven-game winning streak snapped hours after coach Sonny Dykes agreed to a contract extension through 2017.