University of Houston Athletics
Ayers Named American Special Teams Player of the Week
10/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
HOUSTON - Houston's Demarcus Ayers was named The American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week the league announced Monday. The honor comes after the receiver and punt returner helped lead Houston to its fifth 6-0 start in program history with a 42-7 win at Tulane Friday night, its fourth game this season with a winning margin of 21 points or more.
Ayers' recognition is a league-leading seventh American Player of the Week honor this season for the Houston program.
In addition to Ayers honor, Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr. was named to the league's weekly honor roll.
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Ayers set an American record with 175 punt return yards in Houston's win including a 73-yard return for a touchdown. Ayers' yardage total was the second-best effort in Houston history behind 199 yards from Don Bean in 1966, and would alone mark the second-best season effort in American history behind the 261 punt return yards in a season from Memphis' Keiwone Malone in 2014. Ayers became the first player in Houston history to return a punt and kickoff for a touchdown in a career, as he had a 95-yard kickoff return for a score vs. BYU in 2013.
Ayers also had six receptions for 93 yards and two carries for 15 yards including a 15-yard scoring jaunt. Ayers' 283 all-purpose yards ranks 12th in single-game history in the Houston record books.
Ward rushed for at least three rushing touchdowns for the third straight game, the third-longest streak in FBS during the last 10 seasons, while adding a passing touchdown in Houston's win. With his three rushing touchdowns Friday night, Ward took over the nation's lead in rushing TDs on the season with 14.
Ward finished the night with 77 yards rushing on 14 attempts and 222 passing yards on 17-of-25 passing. With his 77 yards Friday, Ward set the Houston career rushing yards by a quarterback record with 1,380 career rushing yards, breaking a 32-year old record set by Lionel Wilson from 1980-83.
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Houston returns to action this Saturday when it travels to Orlando to face UCF. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. CT and the game will air on ESPNews and KPRC 950 AM.
Houston fans not traveling to Orlando for the game can attend official UH watch parties at Lucky's Pub (801 St. Emanuel St., Houston, TX), Brooklyn Athletic Club (601 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX), Ragin Cajun Sugar Land (16100 Kensington #400, Sugar Land, TX), Lucky's Pub Cypress (27126 Northwest Fwy, Cypress, TX 77433) and The Official Watch Party for UH Students at Calhoun's Rooftop Bar and Grill (4701 Calhoun Rd., Houston, TX). Information on out-of-town watch parties can be found here.
2015 HOUSTON FOOTBALL SINGLE-GAME TICKETS
Single-game tickets for the 2015 Houston Football season are now on sale via the Houston Athletics Fan Experience Headquarters. Single-game tickets to Houston's remaining home games start at just $20 and are available by calling the Fan Experience Headquarters at 713-462-6647 or by clicking here.
2015 HOUSTON FOOTBALL GROUP TICKETS
Single-game group ticket sales for the 2015 Houston Football season are now on sale via Houston Athletics Fan Experience Headquarters. Groups of at least 10 or more can purchase tickets starting at just $17 per person to any of Houston's remaining home games by calling or texting Fan Experience Headquarters at 713-GO-COOGS or by clicking here.
