ESPN College Football

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Quarterback Jeff Ballard ran for four touchdowns and threw for two more in his first career start Saturday night as TCU took a big lead, blew it and regained control for a 49-28 victory over New Mexico.

The junior, who started in place of injured Tye Gunn, passed for 192 yards and finished with 79 yards on nine carries, including the first four rushing touchdowns of his career.

The Horned Frogs (4-1, 3-0 Mountain West) ran up a 28-0 first-quarter lead, but running back DonTrell Moore pulled New Mexico (3-2, 1-1) back into the game with three touchdowns as the Lobos ran off 28 straight points to tie the game.

Moore finished with 129 yards rushing -- his third consecutive 100-yard game -- and a career-high 99 receiving. His three touchdowns gave him 50 for his career, breaking Luke Staley's Mountain West record. He has 42 rushing touchdowns, which also broke the conference mark of Staley, who played for BYU.

But after Kenny Byrd missed a 51-yard field goal attempt that would have given the Lobos their first lead, TCU drove 66 yards in five plays and went in front for good. Ballard, who was hit hard as he threw, found tight end Chad Andrus all alone for a 38-yard touchdown on fourth-and-1 with 1:47 left in the third quarter.

TCU's next possession lasted one play. Ballard faked a handoff left and sprinted off right tackle -- breaking loose as New Mexico's Gabriel Fulbright and Mike Mohoric collided -- for a 56-yard score.

The scoring drive was TCU's fourth of the game of 10 seconds or less. The Frogs had three one-play touchdown drives.

The Horned Frogs threatened to bury New Mexico early with a dizzying succession of quick strikes on offense and defense.

The avalanche began on the game's first play, when TCU's Quincy Butler intercepted Kole McKamey's pass at the New Mexico 49-yard line and returned it to the 8, setting up Robert Merrill's touchdown on the next snap.

Then came another interception, a fumble recovery and Jeff Ballard's 29-yard touchdown pass to Michael DePriest with 17 seconds left in the first quarter to put TCU up 28-0.

McKamey passed for 245 yards but threw four interceptions. Aaron Brown ran 14 times for 129 yards, including a 73-yard play in the final minutes, as the Horned Frogs rolled up 272 yards rushing.