Passing Attack On Track In Cougars' Second Scrimmage

8/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football

Aug. 16, 2008

Houston, Texas - Sophomore quarterback Case Keenum passed for 181 yards and two touchdowns, while junior signal-caller Blake Joseph tacked on 168 yards and one score, as the Cougars passed for 349 yards and rushed for an additional 32 in Saturday morning's second scrimmage of the preseason held on the infield of the Carl Lewis International Track and Field Complex.

Houston will scrimmage once more next week in preparation for the 2008 season opener against Southern University on Saturday, August 30, at 6 pm.

"Another scrimmage where we make it through with just a few nicks and bruises, but I thought we accomplished what we needed to get accomplished," UH head coach Kevin Sumlin said. "We went about 65 (plays) today, with really the ones and twos. We sprinkled in a couple of threes.

"We got some of the younger players some work, and now we'll watch the tape. I thought it was good work."

On the first drive of the game Keenum found junior-college transfer Kierrie Johnson from 33 yards out, and later hooked up with true freshman Ronnie Johnson on a 12-yard scoring toss. As for Joseph, he hit sophomore L.J. Castile on a 30-yard touchdown that Castile reached over defensive back B.K. Johnson for the score.

Overall, 11 different Cougar receivers touched the ball, led by Johnson with six catches for 83 yards. Williams, redshirt freshman Patrick Edwards, sophomore Chaz Rodriguez, junior Tim Monroe and senior Mark Hafner all had three catches a piece.

"For us to be any good, (the wide receivers) have to be good players," Sumlin added. "I said a long time ago that I would be worried if we didn't have talent. (The receivers) have to get on the same page, and as we start to cut things down next week with who's getting reps with certain quarterbacks, I think the whole timing and everything else will change."

As for the running game, the Cougars added a one-yard run by sophomore Andre Kohn and a one-yard keeper by Joseph. Defensively, the Cougars pressured both quarterbacks and came away with several sacks, quarterback hurries and interceptions by senior Kenneth Fontenette and freshmen Nick Saenz and Joseph Kelly.

After taking Sunday off, the Cougars return to the practice fields at 9:30 am on Monday, August 18, for an hour-and-a-half workout. The day concludes with a full-pads workout at 5:30 pm. UNOFFICIAL UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON FOOTBALL STATISTICS Scrimmage • Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008 Carl Lewis Track & Field Stadium • Houston, Texas

PASSING Player A C I Yds. TD Blake Joseph 17 12 3 168 1 Case Keenum 19 16 0 181 2 Totals 36 28 3 349 3

RUSHING Player No. Yds. Andre Kohn 7 22 1 TD Bryce Beall 5 22 Case Keenum 3 15 Chaz Rodriguez 1 -6 Blake Joseph 5 -21 1 TD Totals 21 32 2 TD

RECEIVING Player No. Yds Kierrie Johnson 6 83 1 TD Patrick Edwards 3 53 L.J. Castile 2 52 1 TD Tim Monroe 3 39 Chaz Rodriguez 3 34 Mark Hafner 3 30 Ronnie Williams 3 24 1 TD Wesley Scourten 1 12 Andre Kohn 2 10 E.J. Smith 1 8 Bryce Beall 1 4 Totals 28 349 3 TD

DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS Kenneth Fontenette - 1 interception Nick Saenz - 1 interception Joseph Kelly - 1 interception

SCORING PLAYS Kierrie Johnson 33 pass from Case Keenum (Ben Bell kick) Ronnie Williams 12 pass from Case Keenum (Jordan Mannisto kick) Blake Joseph 1 run (Ben Bell kick) Andre Kohn 1 run (Jordan Mannisto kick) L.J. Castile 30 pass from Blake Joseph (Ben Bell kick)