Jaden Craig Piles Up 372 Yards But Fails To Finish In TCU Loss

TCU quarterback Jaden Craig put together the kind of statistical performance Saturday that should have produced a comfortable victory.

Instead, the Horned Frogs walked away with another heartbreaking loss and their quarterback left to explain the one play that overshadowed everything else.

MORE: TCU Recap & Takeaways: Three Turnovers Sink Horned Frogs in Brutal 24-20 Homecoming Loss

Craig completed 33 of 47 passes for 372 yards and a touchdown in TCU's 24-20 loss to West Virginia at Amon G. Carter Stadium. He also scored on a two-yard run, accounting for both of the Horned Frogs' touchdowns.

But his final turnover proved devastating.

Trailing by four with less than a minute remaining, Craig had driven TCU to the West Virginia 14-yard line.

The Horned Frogs were positioned to score the winning touchdown against one of college football's most vulnerable defenses.

Instead, West Virginia defensive tackle David Afogho broke through on a blitz, hit Craig as he attempted to throw and forced a fumble recovered by Ben Cutter with 34 seconds remaining.

Game over.

"Got to get rid of it," Craig admitted afterward. "Can't take a sack in a two-minute situation."

The mistake was particularly frustrating considering how effectively Craig had operated for much of the afternoon.

He completed his first 12 passes, the third-longest consecutive completions streak in TCU history.

His opening possession was nearly flawless, completing all eight attempts during a 16-play, 91-yard touchdown drive capped by a six-yard pass to Ka'Morreun Pimpton.

Craig repeatedly connected with Kari Ashley, who finished with 118 receiving yards, and Jordan Dwyer, who caught 10 passes for 113 yards.

TCU amassed 484 total yards, 29 first downs and controlled possession for more than 37 minutes.

Yet the Horned Frogs scored only 20 points.

Craig's interception contributed to three TCU turnovers, while the offense converted just three of five red-zone opportunities into points.

TCU also failed on a fourth-down opportunity at the West Virginia 20 and missed a 43-yard field goal.

That's where the evaluation of Craig becomes complicated.

He showed accuracy, command of the passing game and the ability to move the offense consistently. But quarterback play isn't measured exclusively by yards.

Decision-making, ball security and finishing drives matter just as much.

"The biggest thing for us right now is just an inability to be able to finish on offense," TCU coach Sonny Dykes said afterward.

That statement accurately summarizes Craig's afternoon.

The quarterback wasn't solely responsible for Saturday's defeat. Protection breakdowns, penalties and missed scoring opportunities contributed significantly.

MORE: TCU vs. West Virginia: Can Horned Frogs Stop An Old Friend at Homecoming?

But with TCU falling to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in Big 12 play, Craig must begin turning impressive passing performances into victories.

Three hundred seventy-two passing yards look terrific in the box score. They don't mean nearly as much when the final possession ends with the football in the opponent's hands.