Horned Frogs cage Wolfe while winning Poinsettia Bowl

SAN DIEGO – Garrett Wolfe had nowhere to run Tuesday night.

The national rushing leader was held to only 28 yards, a whopping 130 less than his average, and the No. 25 TCU Horned Frogs won a Poinsettia Bowl mismatch against Northern Illinois 37-7.

While Wolfe was repeatedly stuffed by one of the nation’s best defenses, led by end Tommy Blake, Horned Frogs quarterback Jeff Ballard ran for three touchdowns and threw for another.

Ballard looked more like a running back as he scored on runs of 10, 1 and 6 yards. He threw a 6-yard TD pass to tight end Brent Hecht. TCU tailback Lonta Hobbs scored on a 4-yard run.

TCU (11-2) won 11 games for the third time in four years, all under coach Gary Patterson. NIU finished 7-6.

Wolfe, a senior from Chicago, came in leading the nation with an average of 158.3 yards rushing and 178.9 all-purpose yards.

The Horned Frogs, though, were fourth nationally in run defense after allowing only 67.6 yards per game. TCU kept alive its string of not allowing a 100-yard rusher, one of only four teams to do so this year.

Wolfe, who carried 20 times, came dangerously close to his career-low of 24 yards set in his first game, the 2004 season opener.

Wolfe was thrown for losses on four of his 10 carries in the first half, when accounted he for just 8 yards.