Postgame Notes: Navy 46, Houston 40
10/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
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BY THE NUMBERS1 3 7 11 18 18 20-2 23-3 27 35 41 359 |
GAME NOTES
• With Houston's loss to Navy, the Cougars fell to 422-353-15 all-time.
• Houston dropped to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in American Athletic Conference play this year.
• Houston returns to action at 6 p.m., Saturday, when it plays host to American Athletic Conference rival Tulsa inside TDECU Stadium in Houston.
• Houston won the toss and chose to defer. Navy elected to receive. Seniors Brandon Wilson, Cameron Malveaux, Tyler McCloskey and Greg Ward Jr., were captains.
• Saturday's loss for Houston was only its second in its last 22 games. It was the Cougars' first loss since a 20-17 setback at UConn on Nov. 21, 2015.
HOUSTON as a RANKED TEAM
• This marked the 190th week that Houston was ranked in the Associated Press poll.
• Houston fell to 110-39-3 all-time when ranked.
• This marked the fifth straight week in which Houston competed as the No. 6 (AP) team nationally.
• Houston fell to 28-15 when ranked among the Associated Press' top-10 teams.
• Houston fell to 10-1 when competing as the No. 6 team (AP).
HEAD COACH Tom Herman
• Herman fell to 18-2 during his Houston career.
• Herman fell to 1-1 against Navy during his head coaching career.
• Saturday's game marked the first time Herman faced Navy in Annapolis, Md.
• Herman fell to 12-2 when playing games on Saturday.
SERIES vs. NAVY
• Houston fell to 2-1 in the all-time series against Navy.
• The Cougars claimed a 52-31 win against Navy on Nov. 27, 2015, inside TDECU Stadium in Houston to clinch the American Athletic Conference West Division title and a berth in the 2015 American Championship Game.
• Houston claimed a 35-0 win in the Garden State Bowl in East Rutherford, N.J., on Dec. 14, 1980, in the programs' first meeting.
• Saturday's game was the first time the Cougars faced the Midshipmen in Annapolis, Md.
BY DAYS
• Houston fell to 368-320-14 all-time when playing games on Saturday.
BY MONTHS
• Houston fell to 142-128-6 all-time when playing in October.
• Saturday's loss snapped the Cougars' seven-game winning streak in the month of November. It was Houston's first loss in October since a 17-12 setback to American Athletic Conference rival UCF on Oct. 2, 2014, inside TDECU Stadium.
OFFENSE
• WIth senior quarterback Greg Ward Jr.'s 32-yard touchdown strike to junior receiver Steven Dunbar at the 11:13 mark of the first quarter, the Cougars recorded their second opening-drive touchdown of the season. Houston scored a touchdown on its first drive in a 64-3 win at Texas State on Sept. 24.
• With 40 points, Houston scored at least 40 points for the fifth straight game dating back to the contest against Lamar. The streak is the longest for the Cougars since seven straight from Sept. 24 to Nov. 10 in 2011.
Greg Ward Jr.
• Senior Greg Ward Jr., fell to 23-3 as the Cougars' starting quarterback. He continues to hold Houston's career record with a .884 winning percentage and is the only starting quarterback in school history with a perfect season after going 13-0 in 2015.
• With Saturday's loss, Ward saw his 18-game winning streak as the Cougars' starting quarterback end. It was the first loss for the Cougars in a game in which Ward started since a 38-31 setback at Cincinnati on Dec. 6, 2014.
• With 359 passing yards, Ward recorded his fourth 300-yard game of the 2016 season and the seventh of his career. The Cougars fell to 4-3 in games in which Ward throws for 300+ yards. Ward ranks eighth in Houston career history with seven 300-yard passing games.
• Ward's 359 passing yards was the third-highest total of his career. Saturday's total trailed only the 389 passing yards against UConn (Sept. 29, 2016) and 360 yards at Cincinnati (Dec. 6, 2014).
• With three touchdown passes against Navy, Ward now has 41 touchdown passes during his career. He moved past Jimmy Klingler (39, 1991-93) and into a tie for seventh place with David Piland (2010-13) with 41 passing touchdowns in Houston career history. Up next in the Houston records book is Chuck Clements, who threw 43 touchdown passes from 1993-95.
• With three touchdown passes, Ward recorded his 12th career game and his fourth in 2016 with 2+ touchdown passes.
• With 359 passing yards, Ward recorded the 20th game of his career with 200+ passing yards in a game.
• None of Houston's opponents have been able to completely lock down both elements of Ward's game during the last two seasons. With 359 passing yards against Navy, Ward has recorded at least 200 passing yards OR 100 rushing yards in every full game in which he has competed during the last two years, missing parts of two games with injury.
• With his 8-yard touchdown run at the 5:12 mark of the third quarter, Ward recorded his sixth rushing touchdown of the season and the 35th of his career.
• With 35 career rushing touchdowns, Ward moved into sole possession of second place in Houston career history. He broke out of a tie with Kenneth Farrow (34, 2012-15). Up next in the Houston records book is record holder Bryce Beall, who rushed for 39 touchdowns from 2008 to 2011.
• Ward's 33-yard run around the 1-minute mark of the third quarter was a season long. It topped his previous season best of 30 yards against UConn on Sept. 29.
• With 94 rushing yards, Ward posted a season high. Saturday's total topped his previous season high of 73 yards at Cincinnati on Sept. 15.
• With 359 passing yards and 94 rushing yards, Ward fell six rushing yards shy of becoming only the third player in Houston history to throw for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in the same game.
Linell Bonner
• With 117 receiving yards, junior wide receiver Linell Bonner recorded the third 100-yard receiving game of the season and his career. The Cougars fell to 2-1 in games in which Bonner posted triple-digit receiving yards.
• With his 30-yard reception midway through the Houston drive that started at the 10:33 mark of the second quarter, Bonner recorded his third reception of 30+ yards in 2016.
Steven Dunbar
• With 112 receiving yards, junior wide receiver Steven Dunbar recorded his second 100-yard receiving game of the season and the third of his career. The Cougars dropped to 2-1 in games in which Dunbar records 100+ receiving yards.
Dillon Birden
• Junior running back Dillon Birden recorded the first reception of his collegiate career around the 9:40 mark of the second quarter.
• Birden's 19-yard touchdown reception from Greg Ward Jr., was the first receiving touchdown of his career. It was his third touchdown in 2016 and his career.
• Birden's 12-yard run in the first quarter was a career high. It topped his previous long of six yards, done twice and most recently against UConn on Sept. 29.
• Birden finished with a career-high two touchdowns against Navy (1 rush, 1 receive). He became the first Cougar since Kenneth Farrow at USF on Nov. 1, 2014, to record a rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game.
• Birden became the 27th player in school history to score rushing and receiving touchdowns in the same game. He joined: Bryce Beall (4); Charles Sims (4); Chuck Weatherspoon (4) Anthony Alridge (3); Michael Hayes (3); Lamar Smith (3); Kimble Anders (2); Max Clark (2); Kenneth Farrow (2); Daniel Spencer (2); Bobby Brezina; Don Brown; Terald Clark; Ryan Gilbert; Tommy Hall; Ryan Jackson; Harold Lewis; Vincent Marshall; Roshawn Pope; Joffrey Reynolds; Chris Robertson; TiAndre Sanders; Gene Shannon; Antowain Smith; Greg Ward Jr.; and Elmo Wright.
DEFENSE
• Navy rushed for 306 yards on 63 carries in Saturday's win. That total ended the Cougars' seven-game streak of holding opponents under 100 rushing yards. It was the first time a Houston opponent reached triple-digit rushing yards since Navy rushed for 147 yards on 38 carries inside TDECU Stadium in Houston on Nov. 26, 2015.
Ed Oliver
• Freshman Ed Oliver tied his career high with seven tackles in the first half against Navy. Oliver's previous high was seven tackles against No. 3/3 Oklahoma during the Advocare Texas Kickoff inside NRG Stadium in Houston on Sept. 3. Oliver finished the game with a career-best 11 tackles.
Ty Cummings
• With two field goals Saturday, senior kicker Ty Cummings moved to 8-of-10 on field goals attempts in 2016 and 16-of-18 during his career.
• With two field goals, Cummings recorded his second game of the 2016 season with 2+ field goals. He drilled a career-high four field goals against Oklahoma during the Advocare Texas Kickoff on Sept. 3.
• With 39- and 36- yard field goals, Cummings is now 14-of-16 on field goals under 40 yards during his career.
• Saturday's game marked the third time during his career that Cummings booted 2+ field goals in a game.
