No. 10 Utah topples TCU on last-minute touchdown

SALT LAKE CITY -- The BCS Busters II are still alive.

Brian Johnson led No. 10 Utah to a thrilling comeback, marching the Utes 80 yards in the final minutes and completing a 9-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Brown with 48 seconds left, in a 13-10 victory over No. 11 Texas Christian on Thursday night.

The Utes remained unbeaten and in contention for a Bowl Championship Series berth despite being outgained 416-275 in yards of offense. Utah is 10-0 for the second time in school history, matching the start of the original BCS Busters in 2004.

"We knew it was there for us," said Johnson, who was 7-for-9 passing for all 80 yards on the winning drive.

It was the second time this season Johnson has saved the Utes (10-0, 6-0 Mountain West) in the final minutes. He led Utah to an 11-point rally in the final 90 seconds of a 31-28 win over Oregon State on Oct. 2.

"I told the guys, 'Stay in it. We're going to have a chance to win it late,' " Johnson said.

The 45,666 fans were the second-largest crowd to see a game at Rice-Eccles Stadium, which was shaking as thousands jumped up and down when Johnson found Brown on a slant pattern for Utah's only touchdown of the game.

Robert Johnson intercepted a pass from Andy Dalton to seal it with five seconds to go, and after Johnson took a knee, the Utes were swarmed as the fans rushed the field.

"This was just magical," said defensive end Paul Kruger, who had one of two third-down sacks that knocked the Horned Frogs (9-2, 6-1) out of field-goal range.

TCU missed two field-goal attempts in the fourth quarter, either of which would have put the Frogs up by seven.

Ross Evans bounced one kick off the left upright, and with 2:48 left he was wide right on a 35-yard try. Utah got the ball back on the 20, and Johnson led the Utes from there.

TCU gave Utah 15 yards with a pass-interference penalty but still nearly had the drive stopped as Utah faced a fourth-and-5. Johnson converted it with an 11-yard pass to Brown to the Frogs 15, and two plays later, Johnson found Brown again for the winning score.

Brown had nine catches for 105 yards.

Aaron Brown ran for 106 yards on 15 carries, and Dalton passed for 251 yards for the Frogs, but they hurt themselves with penalties and untimely breakdowns. TCU was called for 11 penalties, missed the two field goals and allowed four sacks -- two of which cost it possible points.