University of Houston
Tulane
Cougars Roll Past Tulane, 42-14
11/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 
Kevin Sumlin--Postgame Press Conference 
Highlights
Houston-Tulane Game Book (Nov. 8, 2008) in PDF Format 
HOUSTON - Freshman running back Bryce Beall racked up 203 yards of total offense, including 176 on the ground and three touchdowns as the University of Houston football team piled up a season-high 693 yards of total offense in a 42-14 rout of Tulane Saturday in front of 23,522 Homecoming fans at Robertson Stadium.
Along with the offensive fireworks from Beall, junior quarterback Case Keenum completed 29-of-40 passes for 384 yards and four touchdowns. The 300+ yard passing performance by Keenum was the 10th straight for the signal caller from Abilene, Texas, extending his own school record.
The victory improves the Cougars record this season to 5-4, including a 4-1 mark in Conference USA action, while Tulane drops to 2-7 on the year and 1-4 in league play.
After Tulane's first drive saw a 50-yard field goal attempt fall short, it was the Cougars' first chance of the night to put an impression on the scoreboard. Taking over on their own 33-yard line, a 27-yard pass and catch from Keenum to Tyron Carrier put UH in business at the Tulane 22-yard line. Two plays later it was Beall who rumbled 15 yards to pay dirt to put the home squad up 7-0.
The Wave was able to take advantage of a Cougar miscue to knot the score at 7-7 with 10:03 mark of the second quarter. Following a fumble by UH's Mark Hafner set Tulane up with a first-and-10 at the Cougars 12-yard line, the Wave's Nathan Austin took the ball into the end zone from 11 yards out.
The score roused the Cougars who regained the advantage with a 7-play, 59-yard drive to go up 14-7. Beall was the driving force on the drive, rushing twice on the drive for 24 yards and adding 22 yards through the air, including a 19-yard catch to reach the end zone.
With just 3:27 before the intermission, it was Beall again putting points on the board for the Cougars, rambling in from two yards out to cap off a six-play, 68 yard march down the field directed by Keenum. The score was the 10th of the season for Beall, breaking a UH touchdown record for a freshman. The previous high was nine by Keenum last season and Jackie Battle in 2003.
UH's defense stepped up big in the waning minutes of the second quarter, as with Tulane facing a fourth-and-9 situation on the Cougars' 34-yard line. Senior defensive end Tate Stewart stepped up to break through the Tulane line to sack quarterback Kevin Moore and give the ball back to the home team.
Keenum and the Cougars took advantage of the extra opportunity and drove into Tulane territory, but an interception ended the threat and gave the ball back to the Wave.
A 48-yard field goal attempt by Tulane to put points on the board in the dying second of the half was thwarted by Wesley Scourten who blocked his third kick of the year.
The intermission did little to cool down the Cougar offense as out of the break, Keenum orchestrated a quick strike scoring attack to put seven more points on the board. UH marched 87 yards down the field on four plays in just 1:29 to score on a 38-yard toss to Chaz Rodriguez to go up 28-7.
Tulane attempted to climb back into the ball game, driving deep into UH territory to set up a first-and-10 at the Cougars' seven-yard line but again, the UH defense stepped up by thwarting four straight scoring attempts to give the ball back to their offense.
Linebackers Cody Lubojasky and C.J. Caveness led the way for the Cougar defender with nine stops apiece. Lubojasky was also credited with a forced fumble and two pass break-ups.
A leaping grab in the back of the end zone by Hafner from four yards out made it 35-7 Cougars with 3:31 to play in the third quarter. The senior tight end from Waller, Texas, ended the night as UH's top receiver with 11 catches for 91 yards.
The aerial assault continued on the next UH possession as Keenum found a wide open Tim Monroe for a 49-yard score to extend the lead to 42-7. The touchdown was the first career score for Monroe, a redshirt junior from Mount Vernon, Texas.
The Cougars are back in action next weekend when they face Tulsa in a Conference USA West showdown at Robertson Stadium. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
