There was no way that anybody could have known at the time just how important the final two minutes of the game between TCU and Kansas on October 8 would be.
There were two undefeated teams, both exceeding preseason expectations.
TCU, the road team, at 4-0 already with a 31-point win over Oklahoma, was led by quarterback Max Duggan,
The home-standing Kansas Jayhawks, at 5-0 already had road wins at West Virginia and Houston, then a home win over undefeated Duke. Their offensive leader was quarterback Jalen Daniels.
With less than two minutes remaining in a wild fourth quarter, the two Big 12 contenders were tied, 31-31. It was time for somebody to make a big play. That would be Duggan and junior wide receiver Quentin Johnston.
With just 1:36 left to play, Duggan hit Johnston with a 24-yard scoring pass to earn the win, 38-31.
Only after final regular season game was played, and the Horned Frogs had completed an undefeated season with a No. 3 national ranking, could fans realize just how big that catch had been. If TCU had lost at Kansas, it would not have been among the final four teams selected to complete for the CFP national championship. No single catch proved to be more important during the 2022 season.
That game-winning touchdown reception has been chosen as the U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish “Catch of the Year.”
For the game, Duggan completed 23 of 33 passes for three touchdowns with one interception. He ran for 55 yards and another touchdown. He ended the season completing 239 of 368 passes (64.9 percent) for 3,321 yards and 30 touchdowns with only four interceptions.
Johnston caught 14 passes for 206 yards and the game’s final score. It was the most passing yardage by a Horned Frog receiver in the past five seasons. For the season, he had 53 catches for 903 yards and five touchdowns … none bigger than the game-winner against Kansas.
Remember … for the tailgate tent or the pre-game party, U. S. Farm-Raised Catfish is always “the winning catch.”
The Catfish Institute, or TCI, was formed in 1986 by catfish farmers and feed manufacturers to raise consumer awareness of the positive qualities of U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish. Since its formation, U.S. per capita consumption has more than doubled.
U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish is a sustainable and environmentally friendly seafood product. The National Audubon Society, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Environmental Defense all recommend U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish as a safe environmental choice. To find out more, visit www.uscatfish.com.
