Postgame Notes: Houston 31, Temple 10
10/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
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GAME NOTES
• Houston improved to 4-3 on the season with a 31-10 win over Temple. Houston is now 2-1 in American Athletic Conference play.
• Houston improves to 401-348-15 all-time.
• The win gave Temple its first loss in American Athletic Conference play this season and improved the Cougar's all-time record against the Owls to 4-0.
OFFENSE
• Houston offense, led by sophomore quarterback Greg Ward, Jr., finished with 439 total yards of offense, the third most yardage of the season. All three 400+ offensive yard games have come inside TDECU Stadium.
• In his first two career starts at quarterback, Ward is 2-0.
• Houston converted 3-of-4 red zone chances while holding Temple to just 1-of-3 in the red zone.
• Houston led the possession time battle, 42:33-17:27. The game marked the largest margin of possession time of the season.
DEFENSE
• Houston has forced at least one turnover in 30 straight contests, a streak that ranks second nationally, after Trevon Stewart intercepted a pass and took it 29 yards for a score in the first quarter.
• The Stewart touchdown was the second defensive touchdown for Houston this season and the eighth of the Tony Levine Era. The Cougars also now have multiple defensive touchdowns in each of Levine's three seasons.
• The Cougar defense has now forced multiple turnovers in 25 of its last 28 games after William Jackson intercepted a pass with 5:26 remaining in the first half.
• Houston held the Owls to three plays or less on five of their seven drives in the first half. The Cougars forced three three-and-outs and added two turnovers on the opening play of drives.
• Houston forced at least three turnovers for the fifth game this season when Steven Taylor forced a fumble at the Houston 1-yard line and recovered the ball in the end zone for the third turnover of the night. The Temple game marks the 15th time in the last 20 games that Houston has forced at least three turnovers.
• Four Houston defenders had turnovers. Trevon Stewart, William Jackson and Howard Wilson each had an interception and Steven Taylor forced and recovered a fumble.
• Since David Gibbs has taken over as defensive coordinator, Houston has 66 takeaways in 20 games which is the best in the nation in that span. The team closest to them in the last 20 games is Utah State with 49.
• Houston allowed just 10 points against a Temple team that had been averaging 38.2 points per game on the season.
GREG WARD
• Sophomore quarterback Greg Ward finished the first half 14-15 for 108 yards passing.
• In his first two career starts at quarterback, Ward is 2-0.
• Ward finished the game 29-for-33 with 268 yards and two touchdown passes, marking career highs in each of those categories. His previous career night came in the Memphis game on Oct. 11 when he was 17-for-28 for 188 yards and a touchdown pass.
• Ward recorded a completion percentage of 88 percent (29-for-33).
Deontay Greenberry
• Junior wide receiver Deontay Greenberry caught a 7-yard touchdown pass for his third score of the season. Greenberry moved into a tie with Orlando Iglesias for 12th on the all-time touchdown receptions list with 17.
• His eight receptions vs. Temple, gave Greenberry 164 for his career and moved him into eighth on the all-time career receptions list, passing Kimble Anders (155), Freddie Gilbert (158), Charles Sims (158), James Dixon (161) and James Cleveland (161).
• Greenberry now has 15 games in his career with at least six receptions.
Kyle Bullard
• With his 34-yard field goal in the first quarter, kicker Kyle Bullard became the 13th player in Houston history with at least 19 field goals in his career and the 15th with at least 13 in a season.
• Bullard leads the American Athletic Conference with 58 points scored this season.
Trevon Stewart
• Junior safety Trevon Stewart picked off a pass in the first quarter and returned it 29 yards for the touchdown. The pick-six was Stewart's second career defensive touchdown after returning a Cincinnati fumble 15 yards in 2013.
• Stewart has now created 13 turnovers in his career (seven interceptions and six fumble recoveries)
Rowdy Harper
• Senior lineman Rowdy Harper made his 46th consecutive start. He has started every game of his career and leads the nation in career starts by a lineman.
Ryan Jackson
• Junior running back Ryan Jackson took a 30-yard pass from Greg Ward for his fifth career receiving touchdown and his second this season. Jackson finished the game with 75 yards on 18 rushes and three receptions for 59 yards.
Steven Taylor
• Sophomore linebacker Steven Taylor forced his second fumble of the season with Houston backed down to its own 1-yard line. Taylor also recovered the fumble in the end zone for his third career fumble recovery.
• Taylor led the team with seven tackles against the Owl offense.
Kenneth Farrow
• Junior running back Kenneth Farrow scored on a 4-yard run in the second quarter to give him four on the season and 12 touchdowns in his career.
• With his score Friday night and two at Memphis, Farrow had back-to-back games with a touchdown for the third time in his career, the last coming in 2013 against Rutgers (10/26) and USF (10/31)
William Jackson
• Junior defensive back William Jackson picked up his second career interception with just under six minutes remaining in the first half.
• With his forced fumble and recovery at Memphis and his interception tonight, Jackson has forced turnovers in each of the last two games.
Khalil Williams
• Freshman defensive back Khalil Williams made his collegiate debut tonight for the Cougars. The Missouri City, Texas, native finished the night with one tackle.
Markeith Ambles
• Senior wide receiver Markeith Ambles matched his career high with six receptions. Ambles previously reached the mark last season in the BBVA Compass Bowl against Vanderbilt on Jan. 4.
• Ambles also had a season high in receiving yards with 96.
Howard Wilson
• Freshman defensive back Howard Wilson collected his second interception of the season and the Cougar's fourth turnover of the night on a pass late in the third quarter.
BY THE NUMBERS
2
Greg Ward is 2-0 in his first two career starts.
3
All three of Houston's 400+ offensive yard games this season have come inside TDECU Stadium.
4
Houston forced the Owls to commit four turnovers.
5
Houston forced at least three turnovers in a game for the fifth time this season.
8
It only took eight seconds for Houston to extend its 3-0 lead to 10-0 following Stewart's interception return.
19
Kyle Bullard kicked his 19th career field goal, becoming the 13th Cougar to do so.
14
Houston scored 14 points off turnovers.
15
Houston defense has recorded three or more turnovers in 15 of the last 20 games.
25
Houston has recorded double-digit turnovers in 25 of the last 28 games.
30
Houston has recorded at least one takeaway in 30 consecutive contests.
46
Rowdy Harper made his 46th consecutive start. He leads the nation in career starts by a lineman.
58
Kicker Kyle Bullard leads the conference with 58 points scored this season.
66
Houston has 66 takeaways in 20 games, the best in the nation in that span.
88
Greg Ward finished the game with an 88 percent completion percentage (29-of-33).
164
Deontay Greenberry tallied his 164th career reception, moving to eighth in school history.
