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HOUSTON (Dec. 31, 2005) -- Peter LoCoco hit a 44-yard field goal with 5:25 left in the game to put TCU on top 27-24 and the Frogs' defense held the Iowa State offense in check on the ensuing drive to claim the victory in the EV1.net Houston Bowl on Saturday at Reliant Stadium.

The TCU defense forced four Iowa State turnovers and Robert Merrill reached the century mark in rushing yards for the 10th time in his career as he ran for 109 yards on 11 carries with a touchdown to help lead the Frogs to the win.

The victory moves TCU's winning streak to 10 games for the third longest in the nation, behind only USC (34) and Texas (19). It is the Frogs' longest streak since winning 12 straight over the final two games in 2002 and the opening 10 contests in 2003.

TCU scored on its opening two possessions for a 14-0 lead just 6:36 into the contest. The two touchdowns came in a 1:55 span.

The Horned Frogs took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards in 12 plays, capped by a 20-yard Robert Merrill touchdown run. It was his 10th rushing score of the season and 20th of his career.

On the second play of Iowa State's ensuing possession, free safety Jeremy Modkins forced a fumble that was recovered by cornerback Drew Coleman, giving the Frogs possession at the Cyclone 21. Three plays later, an Aaron Brown 7-yard scoring run extended TCU's lead to 14-0.

Iowa State scored 17 points in a 4:30 stretch of the second quarter to take a 17-14 lead with 10:30 remaining in the first half.

The Cyclones' scoring surge snapped TCU's streak of 10 quarters without allowing a touchdown.

A 48-yard touchdown pass from Iowa State's Bret Meyer to Todd Blythe, on the second play of the second quarter, represented the first time since Oct. 29 at San Diego State that a Frog opponent reached the end zone.

A high snap over TCU punter Brian Cortney's head resulted in a safety for the Cyclones, trimming the Frogs' lead to 14-9.

Iowa State took a 17-14 lead on a Meyer 6-yard scoring pass to John Davis, capping a 5-play, 63-yard drive.

The Cyclones' third turnover of the first half, a fumble recovery by David Roach, led to the Frogs going back on top. The first snap of TCU's ensuing series saw Jeff Ballard connect on an 84-yard touchdown pass to Michael DePriest to give the Frogs a 21-17 advantage with 4:05 left in the second quarter. The score gave TCU a new single-season school record of 50 touchdowns.

DePriest's 84-yard touchdown catch from Ballard marked the 7th longest pass play in TCU history and was the longest play from scrimmage for the Frogs since a 98-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Hassell to Reggie Harrell at Arizona in 2003.

Following a 37-yard punt return by Cory Rodgers, a 15-yard Ballard completion to Derek Moore on a 3rd-and-12 kept the Frogs' next scoring drive alive. Chris Manfredini's 29-yard field goal extended TCU's lead to 24-17 with 15 seconds left in the first half.

Meyer and Blythe connected on another scoring strike, a 22-yard completion on a third-and-five, to even the game at 24-24 with 1:53 to play in the third quarter.

The Frogs missed a scoring opportunity with 11:34 to play in the game when Merrill had the ball come loose just shy of the goal line after a 22-yard run.

LoCoco hit a 44-yard field goal with 5:25 remaining in the game to cap a 9-play, 49-yard drive that took 3:42 off the clock and put TCU up 27-24. The connection was LoCoco's fourth make of the season.

After a key third-down pass breakup by Brian Bonner to halt an ISU drive, Rodgers returned a punt 39 yards to the TCU 49 with 3:19 left in the game. A pair of first-down runs by Merrill helped the Frogs run out the clock and seal the victory.