University of Houston Athletics
Football Set to Face C-USA Rival Marshall on Tuesday
10/27/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
• Gameday Central
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GAME 8
Houston Cougars (4-3 • 3-0 C-USA West) at Marshall Thundering Herd (3-4 • 2-1 C-USA East)
Oct. 28, 2008 • Joan C. Edwards Stadium (38,019) • Huntington, W.Va. • 7 p.m. (CDT)
RADIO: Houston-ISP Sports Radio Network * 790 AM The Sports Animal-Houston * Tom Franklin, pxp; Ted Pardee, color; Chuck Brown, sideline
TELEVISION: ESPN2 * Rece Davis, PXP; Lou Holtz, color
INTERNET AUDIO/VIDEO: live broadcast at UHCougars.com
LIVE STATS:
GAME NOTES:
Houston Notes vs. Marshall (Oct. 28, 2008) 
Marshall Notes vs. Houston (Oct. 28, 2008)
Conference USA Notebook (Oct. 28, 2008)
HUNTINGON, W.Va. - The University of Houston football team returns to action at 7 p.m. (CDT), Tuesday when it faces Conference USA rival Marshall at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
Tuesday's game features two of the top teams in Conference USA. With their first 3-0 start in C-USA play and the first in any league since 1990, the Cougars are tied with No. 18/19 Tulsa for the West Division lead, while Marshall is tied with East Carolina atop the East Division.
It also will be the Cougars' final regular-season contest outside the Houston city limits. Following the Marshall game, the Cougars play host to Tulane, No.18/19 Tulsa and UTEP in three straight home games on John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium before closing out the regular season at Rice on Nov. 29.
ABOUT HOUSTON
The Cougars come into Tuesday's game on the heels of a thrilling 44-38, come-from-behind win at SMU on Oct. 18. Sophomore quarterback Case Keenum hit redshirt freshman wide receiver Tyron Carrier on a 26-yard touchdown pass with only 24 seconds remaining to lift the Cougars to their third straight win.
This season, Keenum paces the Cougar offense with 2,691 passing yards and 23 touchdowns on 229-of-333 passing with only six interceptions.
Senior tight end Mark Hafner leads with way with 52 catches and eight touchdowns, while redshirt freshman wide receiver Patrick Edwards paces all receivers with 604 receiving yards.
Freshman running back Bryce Beall leads the Cougars with 557 rushing yards and seven touchdowns and has rushed for at least 100 yards in each of the last three games.
On the defensive side, junior linebacker Matt Nicholson tops the Cougars with 57 tackles, including 33 solo stops. Senior defensive end and All-America candidate Phillip Hunt leads UH and ranks among the national leaders with 10 sacks and 12 sacks for a loss of 72 yards.
Junior cornerback Brandon Brinkley leads the secondary with four interceptions with six other players hauling in one pickoff apiece.
WATCH PARTY INFORMATION
Fans are invited to Bubba's Sports Bar and Grill (6223 Washington Ave.), the official watch party location for Cougar Pride and UH Athletics. Catch all the exciting action with other Cougar friends and fans. Cougar giveaways and drink specials will be available.
RADIO/TELEVISION INFORMATION
Fans can hear the game live on 790 AM The Sports Animal with Tom Franklin calling the play-by-play action, Ted Pardee providing color analysis and Chuck Brown reporting from the sideline. The pregame show is slated to begin one hour before kickoff.
The game will be televised live on ESPN2 with Rece Davis calling the play-by-play action and Lou Holtz providing color analysis.
LIVE STATS INFORMATION
Fans can follow live stats over the Internet by clicking the Gametracker link at UHCougars.com.
SERIES HISTORY
For the second straight season, the Cougars meet Marshall on the gridiron. A year ago, the Cougars enjoyed a 30-21 win over the Thundering Herd on John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium.
Tuesday's game will be the first time the two teams have squared off in West Virginia.
ABOUT MARSHALL
Marshall comes into Tuesday's game as loser of its last three games, including a 23-21 setback at C-USA rival UAB on Oct. 18.
Darius Marshall leads the way with 516 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 131 carries, while Darius Passmore is tops with 43 catches for 724 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Quarterback Mark Cann paces the offense with 1,358 yard and eight touchdowns on 109-of-212 passing.
Maurice Kitchens leads the defense with 51 tackles and a pair of interceptions. Mario Harvey is tops with six tackles for a loss of 39 yards, including four sacks.
