CBS SportsLine wire reports
Sept. 26, 1998

FORT WORTH, Texas -- LaDainian Tomlinson scored his second of two touchdowns in a madcap fourth quarter Saturday night to help propel Texas Christian to a stunning 35-34 upset of No. 23 Air Force.

Cornerback Greg Walls

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broke up two desperation Air Force pass plays in the closing moments, including one in TCU territory with 1:30 left that preserved the victory.

The Horned Frogs (2-1) thus opened their first Western Athletic Conference campaign under new coach Dennis Franchione on a resounding note while dropping the previously unbeaten Falcons (3-1) to 2-1 in the WAC's Mountain Division.

With TCU trailing 31-20 and in a do-or-die situation, quarterback Patrick Batteaux engineered two long-distance scoring drives in the second half to give the Frogs one of their biggest victories in years.

Fullback Lance Williams sped 13 yards to cap an 80-yard, eight-play drive in the third period and Tomlinson plunged the final two yards to finish off a 70-yard, 15-play scoring march early in the fourth quarter.

A 2-POINT CONVERSION pass from Batteaux to B.J. Roberts after Williams' touchdown in the third period proved the difference after the Falcons had to settle for a 26-yard field goal by Jackson Whiting with 9:52 left.

Trailing 20-17 at halftime, the Falcons struck for two quick third-quarter touchdowns, the first set up by Chris Wade's 49-yard run and the second by linebacker C.J. Zanotti's recovery of a botched TCU punt reception.

Blane Morgan slithered 14 yards

TCU's Jason Illian (37) celebrates with teammates. (AP)

on a quarterback keeper to score the go-ahead TD just 1:03 into the second half, then Spanky Gilliam wrapped up the abbreviated second scoring thrust from a yard out.

With a sudden 11-point lead, Air Force seemed in command. But it only set the stage for TCU's unexpected heroics.

With the Falcons nursing a 3-0 lead on David Adams' 50-yard field goal, the teams combined for 34 points in a wild second period that included a series of big plays and two touchdown passes from Morgan to halfback Qualario Brown.

MORGAN SPOTTED BROWN inside the TCU 10 on a 37-yard scoring shot that tied the score 10-10 after the Frogs had seized the lead on Chris Kaylakie's 35-yard field goal and a 10-yard touchdown romp by Basil Mitchell.

TCU regained the lead after LeVar Veale recovered Matt Farmer's fumbled punt at the Falcons 34 and Tomlinson dove the final yard in a seven-play march to the end zone.

With time running out in the first half, Air Force used a 40-yard pass from Morgan to wide receiver Dylan Newman to move 79 yards in seven plays, tying the score at 17 on Morgan's 8-yard toss to Brown.

The Frogs struck back with a flourish, using a personal foul penalty and a couple of Batteaux passes to set up a 49-yard Kaylakie field goal with three seconds left.

The 20-17 TCU halftime lead disappeared in the opening seconds of the third period as the Falcons notched the two quick touchdowns that seemed, momentarily, to torpedo the Frogs' upset scheme.