University of Houston Athletics
First Scrimmage In The Books For Houston
8/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Houston, Texas - For the first time during the preseason the University of Houston football team hit the field for a scrimmage, squaring off against one another for over 100 plays Tuesday evening at Robertson Stadium. UH head coach Kevin Sumlin was pleased with what he saw.
"We had a 104-5 snaps and no one got hurt," Sumlin said. "That's always a positive. You look at a football game, and you are getting 60 or 70 snaps, that usually about where it is. So, you're a bit over a game and three quarters (in this scrimmage,) which is great experience, and we scripted it so the (number one offense and defense) did not get as many.
"(The number one offense and defense) got about what would be about a quarter or half of a game at around 30 plays. Then, the (number two and three offense and defense) would get 50 and 40 snaps, which worked out well.
"We have a long ways to go. We are learning. I think what we are trying to do is teach football in different sections of the field (and) what's important offensively and what is important defensively, when we have to run the ball and when we have to stop people. And, we have to make plays on third down."
Offensively, the Cougars scored six touchdowns, highlighted by back-to-back six-yard rushing scores by sophomore running back Andre Kohn. Kohn topped all rushers with 48 yards on seven carries.
Also, junior quarterback Blake Joseph threw for two more scores, hooking up with senior Mark Hafner from 10 yards out and then finding junior Tim Monroe on a quick three-yard strike. Joseph completed 12-of-21 for 147 yards.
Sophomore Case Keenum started slow but finished with a team-high 179 yards passing on 16-of-26 throwing, as he connected for a 28-yard scoring pass to redshirt freshman E.J. Smith as his lone scoring throw.
The final touchdown was provided by junior-college transfer KeKe Gant, who plowed his way to paydirt from one yard out. Junior kicker Ben Bell provided a 35-yard field goal, while true freshman Jordan Mannisto nailed one from 45 yards out.
Despite these stats, the Cougars' defense also shined bright, racking up six pass break-ups, four sacks and three tackles for losses while pressuring both Joseph and Keenum with a variety of blitzes. Senior Jake Ebner posted two sacks, while junior-college transfer Clint Leal registered a seven-yard sack, and tackle for loss and one pass breakup.
Houston returns to the field tomorrow afternoon with a 5:30 pm workout on the UH Practice Fields. The Cougars plan to scrimmage again on Saturday afternoon, also on the UH Practice Fields.
---www.UHCougars.com---
Scrimmage - Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008 - John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium - Houston, Texas
PASSING | |||||
| Player | A | C | I | Yds. | TD |
| Blake Joseph | 21 | 12 | 0 | 147 | 2 |
| Case Keenum | 26 | 16 | 0 | 179 | 1 |
| Austin Elrod | 5 | 4 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| Cotton Turner | 9 | 5 | 0 | 49 | 0 |
RUSHING | |||||
| Player | No. | Yds. | |||
| Andre Kohn | 7 | 48 | 2 TD | ||
| Jackie Hinton, Jr. | 6 | 24 | |||
| Blake Joseph | 4 | 18 | |||
| Chris Wilson | 4 | 13 | |||
| Bryce Beall | 3 | 8 | |||
| KeKe Gant | 3 | 1 | |||
| Justin Johnson | 3 | 0 | |||
| Case Keenum | 3 | (-11) | |||
RECEIVING | |||||
| Player | No. | Yds | |||
| Mark Hafner | 3 | 74 | TD | ||
| Tim Monroe | 6 | 68 | TD | ||
| E.J. Smith | 4 | 57 | TD | ||
| Kierrie Johnson | 3 | 32 | |||
| Chaz Rodriguez | 1 | 32 | |||
| Isaiah Sweeney | 3 | 31 | |||
| Ronnie Williams | 2 | 19 | |||
| Tyron Carrier | 2 | 14 | |||
| Chris Gilbert | 2 | 10 | |||
| Bryce Beall | 1 | 10 | |||
| Justin Johnson | 1 | 6 | |||
| Andre Kohn | 2 | 5 | |||
| Wes Scourten | 1 | 3 | |||
| KeKe Gant | 1 | 1 | |||
| Anthony Reasno | 1 | 1 | |||
| Ben Bell 35 field goal | |||||
| Andre Kohn 6 rush (Jordan Mannisto kick) | |||||
| Andre Kohn 6 rush (Ben Bell kick) | |||||
| Jordan Mannisto 45 field goal | |||||
| Mark Hafner 10 pass from Blake Joseph (Jordan Mannisto kick) | |||||
| Tim Monroe 3 pass from Blake Joseph (Ben Bell kick) | |||||
| E.J. Smith 28 pass from Case Keenum (Jordan Mannisto kick) | |||||
| KeKe Gant 1 rush (Jay Gibson kick) | |||||
NOTE | |||||
| Ben Bell missed a 43-yard field goal attempt |
