Postgame Notes: Houston 35, SMU 9
11/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
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GAME NOTES
• Houston improved to 7-4 on the season with a 35-9 win over SMU. Houston is now 5-2 in American Athletic Conference play. With the win, Houston remains perfect on the road in league play, moving to 3-0.
• Houston now sits at 404-350-15 all-time.
• The win gives Houston its 29th season with at least seven wins or more including seven of the last 10 seasons. The win also gave Houston a three-game road winning streak for the second straight season.
OFFENSE
• A 38-yard designed run by QB Greg Ward on the first offensive play from scrimmage put Houston up 7-0 early. The one play, 38-yard, 10-second scoring drive was the fastest drive for the Cougars in conference play this season and marked the second straight year for Houston to score on the first offensive play of the game vs. SMU.
• The 1-play touchdown drive by Ward to open the game was the fourth 1-play touchdown drive of the season. It was also the 18th scoring drive of four plays or less this season and 12th scoring drive under one minute.
• The 15-play, 99-yard drive that took 6:02 off the clock in the third quarter marked the Cougars' longest drive in terms of yardage this season. The previous longest drive went for 89 yards against Tulsa on Nov. 22.
• The 21 points scored in the third quarter were the most Houston has had in the third quarter this season. The offense outgained the SMU offense 183-15 yards in the quarter.
• With Kenneth Farrow's 116-yard game, Saturday's game marked the sixth 100-yard effort this season with Farrow accounting for five.
• The Cougars collected 25 first downs in the game compared to just 10 by SMU.
• Houston outgained the Mustangs 433-223 in the game.
DEFENSE
• Houston has forced at least one turnover in 34 straight contests, tying the nation's best streak entering the weekend. Ole Miss, who plays Mississippi State Saturday in the Egg Bowl, entered the weekend with 34 straight games.
• Since David Gibbs has taken over as Defensive Coordinator, Houston has 71 takeaways in 24 games which leads the nation in that span.
• The defense forced a season-high nine punts against SMU and held the Mustangs to 4-of-15 on third down conversions in the game.
• With the fourth down stop in the fourth quarter, Houston defense has now held opponents to a 27 percent (3-for-11) fourth down conversion rate.
• The Cougar defense held SMU's trio of running backs (K.C. Nlemchi, Luke Seeker and Prescott Line) to just 13 yards rushing, while Houston's trio (Kenneth Farrow, Ryan Jackson and Randall Hollimon) totaled 185.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Gavin Stansbury recorded the Cougars' first blocked kick of the season on a 38-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter.
• Junior punter Logan Piper recorded his first career rush on a four yard scamper on a fake punt in the second quarter.
Kenneth Farrow
• Junior running back Kenneth Farrow finished the game with 110 yards on 18 carries and the go-ahead and eventual winning touchdown with 11:34 remaining in the third quarter. He has a touchdown in seven of the 11 games this season.
• Farrow has recorded multiple rushing touchdowns in back-to-back games and has six scores in the two contests. Farrow has 11 rushing touchdowns on the season and 19 for his career. Farrow now has multiple rushing touchdowns in three career games.
• With his 11th touchdown of the season Farrow moved into a tie for ninth all-time in touchdowns in a season for Houston. Farrow is the 17th Cougar back to score at least 11 touchdowns.
• Farrow eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the fifth time this season and has now accounted for five of the six Houston 100-yard games in 2014. The SMU game also marked the second time Farrow has tallied back-to-back 100-yard games.
Rowdy Harper
• Senior offensive lineman Rowdy Harper made his 50th consecutive start. He has started every game of his career and leads the nation in career starts by a lineman.
GREG WARD
• Sophomore quarterback Greg Ward rushed for his third touchdown this season on a 38-yard score on the first offensive play of the game (10 seconds), including his second over 38 yards as he rushed for a 68-yarder in a win at Memphis (Oct.11).
• Ward scored his second rushing touchdown of the game on a 4-yard rush late in the third quarter. For Ward, it marked his first career game with multiple rushing touchdowns. Ward added a third rushing score late in the fourth quarter giving him five rushing touchdowns on the season and seven in his career.
• In his first six career starts at quarterback, Ward is now 5-1.
Gavin Stansbury
• Senior defensive end Stansbury recorded Houston's first blocked kick of the season and also recorded a fumble recovery in the third quarter.
Matthew Adams
• Freshman linebacker Matthew Adams finished the game with four tackles and a forced fumble that led to Houston's only takeaway.
Steven Taylor
• Sophomore Steven Taylor finished the game with a career-high two sacks for a loss of 11 yards. He entered the game with just two sacks on the season, the last coming in a win at USF (Nov.1). Taylor now has seven sacks on his career.
BY THE NUMBERS
1
The Cougars scored on their first offensive play from scrimmage, a 38-yard rush for a TD by Greg Ward.
2
Sophomore linebacker Steven Taylor collected a career high two sacks for a total loss of 11 yards.
3
Greg Ward rushed for three scores on the game marking the first time in his career he has had multiple rushing touchdowns in a game.
5
Friday's game marked Kenneth Farrow's fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season.
9
Houston defense held the Mustangs to just nine points.
21
Houston scored 21 points in the third quarter, the most in that quarter this season.
34
Houston has recorded at least one takeaway in 34 consecutive contests.
50
Rowdy Harper made his 50th consecutive start. He leads the nation in career starts by a lineman.
71
Houston has 71 takeaways in 24 games, the best in the nation since David Gibbs took over as Defensive Coordinator.
99
Houston had its longest scoring drive of the year in terms of yardage on a 10-play 99-yard drive in the third quarter.
