It may not have provided the offensive fireworks that its big brother at the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl usually offers, but last week’s San Diego Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl provided an exciting game when all was said and done. Texas Christian University capped its two-loss season by handing previously unbeaten and ninth-ranked Boise State its first loss of 2008 in a 17-16 contest at Qualcomm Stadium before nearly 35,000 fans. TCU, which came into the game ranked 11th, took its first lead of the game at 17-13 midway through the fourth quarter and relied on its defense to ice the victory. Joseph Turner (16 carries, 83 yards rushing) scored the game-winner on a 17-yard run. Things did not start out well for the Horned Frogs, though, who fell behind 10-0 midway through the opening quarter. With famed alum and San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson watching from the TCU sidelines, the Horned Frogs watched Ian Johnson score on a 20-yard scamper, which would be Boise State’s only touchdown of the evening. Johnson’s TD run was the 58th of his career, breaking former San Diego State star Marshall Faulk’s Western Athletic Conference (WAC) record, which was set when the Aztecs were formerly in the WAC. The Broncos closed to within 17-16 on a 33-yard field goal from Kyle Brotzman late in the game, but a last-ditch effort to score when Boise State got the ball back ended in TCU’s Matt Panfil grabbing a lateral in the air to end the comeback. Mountain West Conference member TCU, ironically, was the one who piled up the offense, outgaining the Broncos 472 yards to 250. Boise State entered the game scoring just under 40 points a game, but it likely had not faced a defense like TCU’s during its run through the weaker WAC. TCU QB Andy Dalton was named the offensive player of the game, finishing 22-of-35 for 197 yards with an interception while adding 74 yards on the ground. Aaron Brown paced the Horned Frogs with 102 rushing yards and a touchdown.