University of Houston Athletics
Game Notes: #HTownTakeover vs. SMU
10/3/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
GAME NOTES - HOUSTON | GAME NOTES - SMU
| THE GAME AT A GLANCE | |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, Oct. 7 |
| Time | 6 p.m. CT |
| Location | Houston, Texas |
| Venue | TDECU Stadium |
| Capacity | 40,000 |
| Surface | Synthetic Turf |
| TV | CBS Sports Network |
| Radio | KPRC 950 AM |
| Live Stats | |
HITS ON HOUSTON |
« Houston (3-1, 1-0 The American) hosts its American Athletic Conference home opener at 6 p.m. Saturday when it faces SMU (4-1, 1-0 The American). Saturday's game airs on CBS Sports Network and on KPRC 950 AM with radio pregame coverage starting at 5 p.m.
« Both teams enter the game off a win as the #HTownTakeover looks to start a new winning streak after a 20-13 victory at Temple. SMU has won two straight after a 49-28 home win over UConn. Houston will also look to start a new home winning streak after snapping the nation's longest active home winning streak with a 27-24 loss to Texas Tech in its last appearance at TDECU Stadium.
« Houston will look to extend its lead atop The American's all-time win list. Since the league's inception, Houston leads all members with 24 wins over conference opponents.
« Houston enters the game tied with TCU for most wins by an FBS school in the state of Texas since the start of the 2014 season with 33 wins in that span. Baylor and Texas A&M are tied for third with 28 wins while Texas Tech is fifth with 19 wins.
« Saturday features Houston's No. 14 scoring defense (14.8 points per game) against SMU's No. 3 scoring offense (48.2 points per game). The UH defense also ranks No. 12 in red zone defense and No. 15 pass efficiency defense.
« The game will see a battle in the trenches as Houston is No. 10 nationally with only four pass sacks allowed while SMU leads the nation with 21 sacks on the year.
« Houston's Linell Bonner is sixth nationally with an average of eight receptions per game. The number leads The American as the senior is fifth in the league with an average of 75 receiving yards per game.
« UH is sixth nationally with an average of 31 yards per kick return while John Leday is seventh nationally with an average of 36.4 yards.
« Houston sophomore defensive tackle Ed Oliver entered 2017 after one of the most explosive seasons by a true freshman in college football. The Houston native earned first-team All-America honors and was named The American's Rookie of the Year after totaling 23 tackles for loss, second nationally. He totaled 47 solo tackles, second best among all linemen nationally while leading all linemen with nine pass breakups.
« Oliver started the season with a bang, with 11 tackles at Arizona. In just his 16th game vs. Texas Tech, Oliver added a tackle for loss to give him 26.5 for his career. Oliver is third nationally with two forced fumbles this season. The sophomore leads all players nationally with a career average of 1.53 tackles for loss per game.
« Houston linebacker Matthew Adams is No. 9 nationally and leads The American with an average of 10.8 tackles per game.
« UH ranks 10th nationally and the best in Texas with nine seasons with at least eight wins since 2006. LSU, Boise State and Oklahoma lead the way with 11 such seasons since 2016 while six teams, including The American's Navy, are tied with 10 such seasons.
« The Texas Tech loss also snapped the longest winning streak by a non-autonomous 5 team against autonomous 5 opponents with seven consecutive wins over the last four seasons. Houston picked up wins over Arizona, Oklahoma, Florida State, Vanderbilt, Louisville (2x) and Pitt during the streak.
« With its win over No. 3 Louisville last year, Houston has a program-record six straight wins over top-25 opponents, a number that's second nationally among active streaks against ranked opponents. It also marked Houston's fourth straight win over an AP Top 10 team (three of which have come in the last three seasons), which leads the nation.
« Houston and Alabama were the only two teams to claim double-digit wins over two top-10 teams in 2016.
« Houston is one of just four programs nationally with at least 13 wins on two different occasions over the last six years, joining Alabama, Clemson and Florida State in accomplishing the feat.
« The 2017 senior class enters the game with 33 wins, which currently ranks 10th on the Houston history for wins by a class. One win would move the class into a tie for fifth. The 2017 senior class needs five more wins to tie the 2016 senior class for most wins in program history.
ABOUT THE COUGARS |
« Since 2014, Houston is tied with TCU for the most wins among state of Texas FBS schools with 33 wins. The Cougars and Horned Frogs are five wins ahead of Baylor and Texas A&M, while standing 14 games ahead of Texas Tech in that span.
« Houston also leads the state of Texas among FBS schools with nine seasons of at least eight wins since 2006. TCU is second with eight seasons while Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech are tied for third with seven each.
« After three years of competition, the 2017 senior class is the 10th-most winningest class in Houston football history with 33 wins since starting in 2014. The class is only one win away from moving into the top five and five wins away from the record of 38 established by the 2016 senior class.
« Houston started 5-0 in back-to-back seasons in 2015 and 2016 for the first time in program history. The Cougars are looking for at least eight wins to give them a fifth straight season of such, which would be a first in program history.
« Over 2015-16, Houston had 22 wins, the fourth-best total in the nation over the span behind the 28 wins of Alabama and Clemson, and 23 of Ohio State.
« Houston's 22 wins over 2015-16 marked the best two-season total in program history, topping the 21 wins from 2014-15.
« No. 3 Oklahoma became the highest-ranked foe to fall to Houston since the Cougars defeated No. 3 Texas, 29-15, on Nov. 10, 1984. OU would be the first No. 3 team to fall to Houston in 2016, as the Cougars would defeat No. 3 Louisville, 36-10, on Nov. 17, sacking eventual Heisman winner Lamar Jackson 11 times.
« With its 36-10 win over No. 3 Louisville last season, Houston has won six straight against AP top-25 teams, second nationally, and a nation's best four straight against AP top-10 teams.
ABOUT SMU |
« In its third season under head coach Chad Morris, SMU enters Saturday at 4-1 and 1-0 in The American. The Mustangs opened the year with wins over Stephen F. Austin (58-14) and North Texas (54-32) before suffering their lone setback of the year, a 56-36 loss at TCU. They've rebounded with home wins over Arkansas State (44-21) and UConn (49-28). Their American Conference opening win over the Huskies saw the two teams tied at 28 nine seconds into the fourth quarter before SMU scored 21 unanswered points.
« SMU is led offensively by sophomore quarterback Ben Hicks who has thrown for 1,275 yards and 14 touchdowns, fourth nationally, against three interceptions on 89-of-164 passing. Junior transfer receiver Trey Quinn leads the Mustangs in receiving with 37 receptions for 431 yards and four touchdowns while junior standout Courtland Sutton has 20 receptions for 329 yards and a nation's best seven touchdowns. Sophomore Xavier Jones is one of two running backs over 300 yards on the season for SMU with 368 yards and six scores on 63 attempts while his classmate Ke'Mon Freeman has 311 yards and six scores on 63 attempts.
« Defensively, the Mustangs are led by sophomore safety Mikial Onu who has 38 tackles and two pass breakups. Senior defensive end Justin Lawler leads The American with six sacks on the year, part of his eight tackles for loss which only trail the nine tackles for loss of teammate, junior linebacker Kyran Mitchell, for The American lead. Junior cornerback Jordan Wyatt leads SMU with two interceptions on the year.
« Saturday's matchup is the 33rd meeting between the two schools with Houston owning a 20-11-2 series lead. SMU snapped Houston's three-game win streak in the series with a 38-16 win last season in Dallas. The Cougars have won the last five showdowns in Houston.
« Houston running backs coach Kenith Pope spent six seasons (1981-86) at SMU, coaching the Mustangs' wide receivers during the span.
« SMU defensive coordinator Van Malone earned a degree in social science from UH in 2002.
« Major Applewhite was on the same 2006 Rice staff as SMU secondary coach Jess Loepp. Applewhite served as the Owls' offensive coordinator while Loepp coached the safeties.
DEGREES IN HAND |
« Nine Houston student-athletes entered the season having already earned an undergraduate degree. Linell Bonner, Reggie Chevis (Texas A&M), Nomluis Fruge, D'Juan Hines, Ellis Jefferson (Arizona State), Deon Mix (Auburn), Kyle Postma, Byron Simpson and Nick Thurman have all completed degree requirements prior to this season.
« Houston ranks 17th nationally with nine players having earned degrees prior to the start of the season.
LAST TIME OUT |
« Houston didn't wait long to jump out to a lead en route to its sixth straight win over a top-25 team and its fourth straight over a top-10 team as it recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff and scored on its first offensive play vs. No. 3 Louisville. The 13-yard TD pass from Greg Ward Jr. to Duke Catalon was the first of 31 unanswered first half points as the Cougars rolled to a 36-10 win over the Cardinals.
« The first score was one of three for Catalon who later pulled in a deflected pass for a second 13-yard TD reception while also adding a 2-yard rushing score. Houston also scored on a 50-yard double pass from Linell Bonner to Chance Allen, who had 105 yards receiving on four receptions.
« The Houston defense held Louisville to 39.6 points below its scoring average and 271 yards below its total offense average as the defense totaled up 11 sacks and two turnovers. Steven Taylor (14 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Ed Oliver (six tackles, two sacks, three pass breakups) each forced Louisville fumbles on defense.
ON THE OFFENSIVE |
« Since 2006, only Oregon and Oklahoma have racked up more yards than Houston who has 72,933 yards in that time.
Rank Team Total Yards (06-present)
1. Oregon 76,174
2. Houston 72,933
3. Texas Tech 72,796
4. Oklahoma 72,566
5. Nevada 66,030
« Houston has scored in 216 straight games dating back to Sept. 30, 2000.
« Five of Houston's 18 scoring drives this season have lasted less than two minutes with two lasting less than one minute, the quickest only 29 seconds with a two-play, 19-yard drive vs. Texas Tech.
« Houston has four scoring drives of four plays or less including the aforementioned two-play drive.
« With a balanced attack, Houston was one of just 15 schools nationally in 2016 to average over 145 yards per game rushing (147.1) and over 295 yards passing per game (296.3).
« The Cougars were also one of 19 teams nationally with at least 29 rushing touchdowns and 24 passing touchdowns.
« Houston was 17th nationally with 225 plays of 10+ yards.
« The versatility of the offense was evident as seven different players had rushing touchdowns last season for Houston while eight different players had receiving touchdowns and two different players had passing touchdowns.
« Against Louisville, Houston scored 16 points above the Cardinals' defensive scoring average and scored the most on UL since the Cardinals gave up 42 points to No. 5 Clemson earlier in the season.
« Houston totaled 624 yards against Memphis, its fifth game over 600 yards of total offense since the start of the 2015 season. Houston now has 75 games with 600+ yards in program history.
« Since 2015, Houston has 11 games with 500+ yards of total offense and has scored more than 40 points 12 times and more than 50 points five times.
A LOOK UNDER CENTER |
« With the graduation of Greg Ward Jr., the Houston program lost its second-most winningest quarterback in program history with 27 career wins.
« Ward closed his career among the program's top five for career passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions and total offense. He finished 10th in program history for career rushing yards and set the career rushing record by a QB with 2,375 yards.
« Two QBs have had the opportunity to fill in for Ward this season in Kyle Allen (starts vs. Arizona, Rice & Cincinnati) and Kyle Postma (start vs. Temple). The two have helped Houston rank fourth nationally in completion percentage at 73.4 percent as Allen leads the nation in completion percentage at 76.9 percent and Postma is 19th at 66.7 percent.
« Allen, who sat out 2016 under NCAA transfer rules after transferring from Texas A&M. The nation's No. 1 quarterback in the 2014 recruiting class, Allen ran Houston's scout team during his year off.
« With the Aggies, Allen started 14 games over two seasons while seeing action in 20 games total. His sophomore season saw Allen lead Texas A&M in passing and total offense, completing 160-of-283 passes for 2,210 yards and 17 touchdowns against seven interceptions while adding 102 yards on the ground.
« Allen threw for 1,322 yards and 16 TDs as a freshman against seven interceptions on 118-of-192 passing. He closed the year with MVP honors in a Liberty Bowl win over West Virginia, throwing for 294 yards and four TDs while rushing for 33 yards.
« Allen opened his Houston career with 225 yards and one TD against two interceptions on 25-of-32 passing at Arizona.
« After setting the Houston single-game completion percentage record against Rice, completing 31-of-33 passes for 93.9 percent, Allen leads the nation in completion percentage with a rate of 76.9 percent, on 80-of-104 passing.
« He started the Rice game completing his first 13 attempts and finished the night with 309 yards, his first 300-yard passing game with Houston, and the fourth of his career.
« Kyle Postma, who has seen action in 22 career games with three starts, earned the start at QB at Temple. He finished the day with 226 yards with one TD and one INT on 25-of-36 passing. He had a game-high 81 yards rushing on 15 attempts.
« Postma came off the bench with 7:26 left in the fourth against Texas Tech and lead Houston to back-to-back touchdowns on a 10-play, 73-yard drive capped by a 9-yard Postma rushing TD on 4th-and-1, and a 8-play, 76-yard drive finished by Postma hitting Bonner on a 4-yard score. He finished 8-of-13 passing with 100 yards while leading Houston with 52 yards rushing on four attempts.
« For his career, he has thrown for 1,034 yards and five touchdowns against four interceptions on 108-of-168 passing.
« His first three games of action came at receiver in 2015 when he caught six passes for 145 yards and a touchdown before being moved back to QB due to injuries suffered by others.
HANDY TOOLS TO HAVE |
« The wide receiver position provides Houston with talented leaders mixed with a group of promising underclassmen. The two leaders in Steven Dunbar (31) and Linell Bonner (15) have combined for 46 career starts and 70 career games.
« Bonner is sixth nationally and leads The American with an average of 8.0 receptions per game while Dunbar is third in the league with an average of 6.0 receptions per game. John Leday is ninth with an average of 4.3 receptions per game. Houston is the only school in the league with multiple receivers in the top nine in the category.
« Bonner led all returning receivers in The American and was second nationally with 98 receptions in 2016. He looks to follow up on a season that saw the former walk-on total 1,118 yards and three touchdowns.
« The former walk on opened the year with nine receptions for 59 yards and a score at Arizona, before upping his total by one with 10 receptions for 132 yards vs. Rice. He recorded his 11th career game with 7+ receptions against Texas Tech, finishing with seven receptions for 66 yards and a score.
« With 155 receptions, Bonner ranks 13th on Houston's career receptions chart and needs six more to move into the top 10.
« Bonner now has 1,692 career receiving yards to rank 17th on the Houston career receiving yards chart. He needs 27 more to move into the top 15 and 584 yards to move into the top 10.
« Houston's No. 2 pass catcher in terms of touchdowns in 2016 with five, Dunbar totaled 53 receptions for 692 yards is expanding his role with the graduation of Chance Allen who had 56 receptions for 815 yards and six scores.
« Dunbar has led Houston in receiving yards in two games this season with 72 off six receptions at Arizona and 83 off six receptions vs. Texas Tech.
« He has posted at least six receptions in all four games this season for Houston.
« The senior ranks 23rd on the Houston career receptions chart and needs nine to move into the top 20, sitting at 128 receptions for 1,650 yards, good for 23rd on the UH chart. He needs 42 yards to move into the top 20 for career receiving yards.
« Leday stepped up vs. Rice, recording career highs in receptions (7) and yards (60) while pulling in his first touchdown since the 2013 season opener.
« The group was joined by a sizeable addition in Arizona State graduate transfer Ellis Jefferson. The Denton, Texas, native saw action in 38 games over three seasons at Arizona State but was lost for two games after suffering injuries vs. Arizona.
« Uber athlete D'Eriq King stepped up vs. Temple, leading the #HTownTakeover with seven receptions for 51 yards. The sophomore quarterback/wide receiver also had four carries for 15 yards including a 13-yard touchdown.
« The trio of Keith Corbin, Courtney Lark and Terry Mark combined for 20 games played as true freshmen in 2016. Corbin led the quartet with six receptions for 68 yards while both Lark and Mark had three each, going for 26 yards and eight yards, respectively.
BACK TO THE BACKS |
« Houston returned every scholarship running back from the 2016 team led by junior Duke Catalon who totaled 528 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 145 attempts. He also added 44 receptions for 281 yards and three scores.
« Senior Dillon Birden, who picked up his sixth career start at Arizona, teams with Catalon after running for 289 yards and six scores on 62 attempts in 2016 while pulling in seven receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown.
« The two combined for 161 rushing yards at Arizona with Birden rushing 14 times for 83 yards and Catalon 18 times for 78 yards. Birden accounted for the lone rushing TD of the night, a 3-yard dive.
« Sophomores Mulbah Car (49-206), Kevrin Justice (34-149), Josh Burrell (12-51) were next on the rushing chart in 2016.
« Car led Houston in rushing vs. Rice, his first action of the year, totaling 59 yards on 11 attempts with a touchdown.
« Freshman Davion Mitchell joined the program after rushing for 1,598 yards and 31 touchdowns as a senior at Rockdale High School (TX). Mitchell totaled 3,283 rushing yards and 48 touchdowns in his high school career. He made his debut vs. Rice, rushing six times for 23 yards.
FIRST YEAR FACES IN NEW PLACES |
« The group that returned the most in terms of experience offers new offensive line coach Chris Scelfo a variety of parts to move around the line. Scelfo stepped into a position with eight returners combining for 86 career starts and 133 career games played entering 2017. All eight started at least five games in 2016.
« Center Will Noble leads the line in terms of starting experience with 24 career starts, including eight in 2015 en route to earning FWAA Freshman All-America honors.
« Senior Marcus Oliver leads the team in overall experience with 38 career games played while totaling 19 career starts. Junior Mason Denley also has experience at the guard position, owning 12 career starts, with six in 2016.
« Sophomore Josh Jones stepped into the starting role at left tackle for the 2016 opener and never looked back, starting the last 17 games after redshirting his first season on campus. On the opposite side, Braylon Jones started the final six games of the season at right tackle as a true freshman after stepping in for an injured Na'Ty Rodgers who returns for his senior season after starting the first seven games of 2016.
« Braylon Jones shifted to guard to start the season at Arizona, giving Rodgers the return to right tackle.
« Houston ranks 10th nationally in allowing just four sacks this season.
« The group did not allow a sack or a quarterback hurry to Arizona.
« Against Temple, who entered the game fourth nationally with 15 sacks, the line held the Owls to no sacks.
PAVING THE WAYS |
« The Houston defense enters week 13 with the No. 2 rushing defense in the nation, allowing just an average of 93.5 yards per game through 11 contests. Houston also ranks 10th in total defense (304.1 yards per game), 10th in first down defense (172) and 18th in scoring defense (20.3 points per game). UH leads The American in rushing defense.
« Navy snapped Houston's seven-game streak of not allowing an opponent to rush for over 100 yards when it ran for 306 yards. Prior to the streak, the Midshipmen were the last team to rush for over 100 yards. During the streak, Houston held Temple, Florida State, Oklahoma, Lamar, Cincinnati, Texas State and UConn to a combined 324 rushing yards.
« Houston bounced back with another sub 100-yard rushing effort against Tulsa as it held the Hurricane to 94 yards rushing.
« Houston has forced a three-and-out on 41.8 percent of its drives, ranking fifth nationally, and is second nationally with an average of 5.81 three-and-outs forced per game.
« The Cougars set a program record when they allowed Lamar just 73 total offensive yards, besting a 47-year old record of 74 yards set by the 1969 Houston team against Mississippi State.
« The Houston defense held Oklahoma to 23 points in its season opener, just the third time in the last 14 games the Sooners have been held to under 30 points.
« Oklahoma, who is averaging 550.8 yards per game, had 393 total yards against the Houston defense including just 70 on the ground. OU is averaging 228.1 yards per rushing this season.
« Houston held Cincinnati to its lowest output of total offense at home (307 yards) since Dec. 4, 2010, against Pittsburgh. The 30 total rushing yards on 25 attempts were the Bearcats fewest since rushing for 15 yards on 32 attempts in their 2010 season opener at Fresno State.
« Against UCF, the Houston defense held the Knights to only 29 total yards in the second half, including minus 55 yards rushing, after allowing 166 total yards and 95 rushing yards in the first half.
« Houston held Tulane 151.6 yards below its rushing average with its lowest rushing output of the year (100 yards).
« Houston held Louisville to 39.6 points below its scoring average, 169 yards below its rushing average, 102 yards below its passing average and 271 yards below its total offense average while totaling 11 sacks. Louisville's 312 yards of total offense was its lowest of the season, with the next closest at 469 yards vs. Duke.
« Louisville's 10 points were its lowest since scoring only seven vs. North Carolina on Oct. 8, 2011.
« Defensive coordinator Todd Orlando is the only coordinator in the nation to place two players in the top 20 for tackles for loss in both 2014 and 2015 with Zach Vigil (11th) and Nick Vigil (18th) accomplishing the feat at Utah State in 2014 and Elandon Roberts (13th) and Steven Taylor (16th) doing so in 2015.
« The 2015 Cougar defense led The American and was eighth nationally in allowing opponents just an average of 108.9 yards rushing per game. The Cougars ranked 20th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 20.7 points per game.
« In its win over Florida State, the Houston defense held FSU star running back Dalvin Cook to just 33 yards on 18 carries, an average of 1.8 yards per attempt. Entering the game, Cook had averaged 150.7 yards per game and 7.9 yards per carry.
« Last season's win over Vanderbilt was the first shutout of an SEC team by a non-conference opponent since Sept. 5, 2004 when Louisville defeated Kentucky 28-0.
THIRD WARD DEFENSE |
« The Houston defense is one of just 10 nationally to hold opponents to an average of under 25 points scoring per game in each of the last four seasons. Taking it down a point further, UH is one of just seven schools to hold its opponents under 24 points per game in each of the last four seasons, joining Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Ohio State, Stanford and Wisconsin in accomplishing the feat.
« The Houston defense finished 2016 with the No. 4 rushing defense in the nation, allowing an average of 100.2 yards per game. Houston also ranked 13th in total defense (319.6 yards per game), ninth in first down defense (213) and 30th in scoring defense (23.5 points per game). UH led The American in rushing defense and first down defense and was second behind Temple in total defense and scoring defense.
« The defense has started 2017 right where it ended in 2016, as it ranks 14th nationally in scoring defense, allowing only 14.8 points per game.
« Houston ranks 12th nationally in red zone defense, allowing a score on an average of 66.7 percent of attempts, 8-of-12 attempts. The Cougars have allowed only four touchdowns in their opponents' 12 trips into the red zone, which ranks eighth nationally.
« The Cougars are 15th nationally with a pass efficiency defense rating of 100.7, ranking second in The American.
« Against Temple, the Houston defense held the Owls scoreles in the first half, snapping a 51-game streak that Temple had scored in the first half.
« The defense held Texas Tech to half its scoring average entering the game, holding the Red Raiders who were averaging 54.0 points per game to 27 points, and just three touchdowns. Although the Cougars gave up 521 yards, 234 yards came off just three plays.
« Houston held Rice to only three points, a field goal with 2:47 remaining in the game. It was Rice's lowest scoring output since falling to No. 4 Nebraska, 48-3, on Sept. 20, 2001.
« Houston held Rice to only three points, a field goal with 2:47 remaining in the game. It was Rice's lowest scoring
« The Houston defense got on the scoreboard at Arizona, forcing a safety as Arizona was forced to recover a fumble in its own end zone.
« UH was third nationally with five defensive touchdowns in 2016, trailing just Alabama (11) and Ohio State (7).
« The Cougars were 17th nationally and second in The American with 39 sacks. Houston had two players in the top four of The American in sacks with Steven Taylor and Tyus Bowser tied for third with 8.5 each.
« The Cougars set a program record when they allowed Lamar just 73 total offensive yards, besting a 47-year old record of 74 yards set by the 1969 Houston team against Mississippi State.
« Houston held Oklahoma, who averaged 43.9 points per game in 2016, to 23 points in its season opener.
« Oklahoma, who averaged 554.8 yards per game in 2016, had 393 total yards against the Houston defense including just 70 on the ground. OU averaged 236.8 yards rushing last season.
« Houston held Cincinnati to its lowest output of total offense at home (307 yards) since Dec. 4, 2010, against Pittsburgh. The 30 total rushing yards on 25 attempts were the Bearcats' fewest since rushing for 15 yards on 32 attempts in their 2010 season opener at Fresno State.
« Against UCF, the Houston defense held the Knights to only 29 total yards in the second half, including negative 55 yards rushing, after allowing 166 total yards and 95 rushing yards in the first half.
« UH held Tulane to 128.1 yards below its rushing average with its lowest rushing output of the year (100 yards).
« Houston held Louisville to 32.5 points below its scoring average, 141.1 yards below its rushing average, 79.5 yards below its passing average and 220.7 yards below its total offense average while totaling 11 sacks.
« Louisville's 10 points were its lowest since scoring only seven vs. North Carolina on Oct. 8, 2011.
TURNOVER U |
« Since the start of the 2013 season, no program has taken the ball away from opposing offenses more than Houston with 135 turnovers forced in that time with nine in 2017, 18 in 2016, 35 in 2015, 30 in 2014 and 43 in 2013.
« UH has forced multiple turnovers in 46 of its last 64 games.
« Garrett Davis and Emeke Egbule teamed up for one of Houston's biggest turnovers of 2016 when Davis hit Tulsa quarterback Dane Evans for a fumble-forcing sack that Egbule scooped up and returned 24 yards for the winning touchdown with 1:21 left in Houston's 38-31 win.
« Houston established a 2016 high with four turnovers vs. UCF and recovered three fumbles against Louisville.
« The Cougars were opportunistic when creating turnovers last season, turning 18 turnovers into 87 points, including 28 points directly on the interception returns from Steven Taylor and Howard Wilson at Cincinnati and fumble recoveries from Emeke Egbule vs. Tulsa and Jeremy Winchester vs. Tulane.
« Houston opened the season with multiple turnovers at Arizona as Ed Oliver forced his fourth career fumble that was recovered by Alexander Myres, and Davis ended a late fourth-quarter drive with his first career interception.
« The Cougars made it two-for-two with multiple turnover games vs. Rice, as Matthew Adams and Leroy Godfrey both recovered fumbles and Payton Turner had an interception.
« Houston turned its three turnovers vs. Rice into 17 points as the Houston offense had to travel just a total of 58 yards to pay dirt following the defense's work.
« They followed it up one week later with a touchdown, having to travel just 19 yards, following Terrell Williams' first career interception vs. Texas Tech.
« Davis had a career-high two interceptions vs. Temple, both within his own 12-yard line to snuff out scoring threats while Isaiah Johnson added his first career interception in the game.
ED-UCATION |
« The American Athletic Conference and the nation were quickly introduced to Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver last season as the true freshman earned seven First Team All-America honors, FWAA Freshman All-America Honors and was named The American's Rookie of the Year.
« Ranked the nation's No. 2 defensive tackle in the 2016 signing class by ESPN, Oliver did not wait long to make his impression felt for Houston, earning his first career start vs. Oklahoma, leading all linemen with seven tackles including two sacks.
« Oliver finished second nationally in 2016 with 23 tackles for loss and leads all returning defensive linemen nationally.
« Playing out of the tackle spot on a three-man line, he was second nationally among all defensive linemen with 47 solo tackles and 13th among all defensive linemen nationally with 66 total tackles.
« Oliver also led all defensive linemen nationally with nine pass breakups. The number also led all non-defensive backs in The American and was sixth in the league regardless of position.
« Oliver's 66 tackles were second among all freshmen in The American, regardless of position, and led all freshmen defensive linemen nationally. His five sacks led all freshmen in The American. Oliver also led Houston and finished second in The American with three forced fumbles, a number that ranked second nationally among freshmen.
« He wasted no time to open the 2017 season, totaling 11 tackles at Arizona, his third career game with double-digit tackles. Oliver also had 1.5 tackles for loss, his ninth career game with multiple tackles for loss.
« Oliver added his 26.5 career tackle for loss vs. Texas Tech.
« He has started off the season with forced fumbles in the first two games, and now has five in his career, ranking 13th in Houston history. His next forced fumble would move him into eighth and he is five away from tying the Houston career record.
« He leads all active players nationally with a career average of 1.53 tackles for loss per game and ranks second nationally with a career average of 0.29 forced fumbles per game.
« After recording one tackle vs. Temple, Oliver left the game after taking a diving block to the knee in the Owls' backfield.
« Nick Thurman was second among UH linemen in 2016 with 26 tackles and two sacks, part of his 5.5 tackles for loss. He's totaled 66 tackles and 12.5 tackles for loss in 35 career games played. He picked up his first sack of the season vs. Texas Tech.
« Texas A&M graduate transfer Reggie Chevis stepped into the starting lineup at Arizona for an injured Jerard Carter. He had a career-high four tackles vs. Texas Tech.
« True freshman Payton Turner had an impressive debut vs. Rice, snagging an interception on his first career play to stop an Owls' first-quarter drive. On Rice's next drive, Turner picked up his first career sack to force a three-and-out and a Rice punt.
« Turner added a career-high four stops at Temple including a tackle for loss.
NO FLY ZONE |
« While Houston returned its two starting safeties in Garrett Davis and Khalil Williams, the Cougars looked to replace two players with starting cornerback experience in Brandon and Howard Wilson. The two combined for 44 starts and 78 career games played. Jeremy Winchester with 10 career starts and 27 games played at the position returned in 2017.
« A senior, Khalil Williams staked claim to one of Houston's defensive back spots after starting all 13 games in 2016 and owns 20 career starts. The secondary's leading returning tackler with 69 stops in 2016, Williams is being used in the nickel back role held by Brandon Wilson in 2016.
« Williams has started off the 2017 season with seven tackles for loss through the first four games and leads all defensive backs nationally with an average of 1.75 tackles for loss per game. He ranks 14th nationally regardless of position.
« Davis, who owns 16 starts, totaled 65 tackles including seven for a loss last season. He made a big difference in the season-opening win, making his first career interception to snuff out an Arizona drive at his own 32-yard line with 3:49 left in the game.
« Davis also totaled 11 tackles, his second career game with double-digit stops.
« He added to his career interception total with a career-best two at Temple, while totaling five tackles and now ranks sixth this season with three picks.
« Senior Terrell Williams, who owns nine starts in two seasons, is also patrolling the Houston secondary this season, breaking up three passes through three games with his first career interception vs. Texas Tech.
« Senior Alexander Myres and junior Isaiah Johnson both made their first career starts at cornerback at Arizona with Myres recovering a fumble and making one tackle and Johnson making three tackles. Johnson made the jump to defense after two seasons at receiver while Myres, a walk-on, was rewarded with a scholarship prior to the start of the season.
« Against Texas Tech, Winchester made his 11th career start in place of an injured Myres and finished with six tackles and one pass breakup while Johnson had a career-high eight tackles and one breakup.
« Myres returned to the field against Temple in a game that saw Johnson make his first career interception while breaking up a career-best two passes.
SMASHMOUTH FOOTBALL |
« For the second straight year, UH lost leaders at linebacker with the graduation of sack masters Tyus Bowser and Steven Taylor.
« Senior Matthew Adams, who led the team in tackles with 82 stops last year, returns to lead the way. The smashmouth middle linebacker also forced two fumbles and had two sacks in 2016.
« Adams has led Houston in tackles in three straight games with 11 tackles against Rice, a career-high 15 stops vs. Texas Tech and nine stops at Temple.
« The Texas Tech game marked his eighth career game with at least 10 tackles.
« Adams leads The American with an average of 10.8 tackles per game, a number that ranks ninth nationally.
« Fellow senior D'Juan Hines returned to the group after starting seven games in 2016, finishing with 44 stops.
« Hines posted a career-high 13 stops vs. Texas Tech while forcing his first career forced fumble.
« The two combined to make 17 stops at Arizona with Hines leading the way with nine tackles.
« Junior Emeke Egbule stepped in with five starts last season and had one of five Houston defensive touchdowns after scooping and scoring the game-winning touchdown against Tulsa on a 24-yard fumble return. He recorded his second career sack at Arizona.
« Following a common linebacker theme, Egbule recorded a career-high eight tackles against Texas Tech.
« Others looking to compete at the position include seniors Ralph Harvey Jr., Nomluis Fruge, Cameron Doubenmier and Austin Robinson along with sophomores Leroy Godfrey and Jordan Milburn.
« Godfrey recovered his first career fumble vs. Rice while also making his first career solo tackle for loss.
« Much needed depth has been added with the addition of freshmen David Anenih, Elijah Gooden, Derek Parish and Amaud Willis-Dalton.
RETURNS DEPARTMENT |
« Houston turned to a new face to spark its kick return with the graduation of Brandon Wilson who finished his career ninth on the UH career charts with 1,121 kickoff return yards and second with two kickoff returns for touchdowns in his career.
« The early returns look good for Houston, as the #HTownTakeover is sixth nationally in kickoff returns with an average of 31.0 yards per return.
« The Houston punt return defense is 13th nationally with an average of 1.0 yard per return.
« Senior John Leday wasted no time in a new role, taking his first career kickoff return 81 yards to the Arizona 16-yard line, setting up the Houston offense for a short touchdown drive. Leday also added a 24-yard return later in the game.
« Leday took his one return vs. Texas Tech back 47 yards and ranks fourth nationally with at least two kickoff returns of 40+ yards.
« Leday ranks seventh nationally and second in The American with an average of 36.4 yards per return, less than eight yards off the nation's lead.
« Derek McLemore joined the kick returner fray vs. Temple, returning one kick for 25 yards.
« Texas State graduate transfer walk-on Brandon McDowell took over the punt returning duties for Houston, making one return for six yards at Arizona.
« McDowell also saw action at kick returner vs. Rice, returning one kick for 35 yards.
THE PUNT-AH |
« Sophomore punter Dane Roy returned after his first season in America as a 27-year old true freshman in 2016.
« The Bunyip, Australia native and former Australian rules football player for Richmond Central placed 20 of his 59 punts in 2016 inside his opponent's 20-yard line with only four touchbacks. His high-hanging punts helped Houston rank seventh nationally in punt return defense, allowing just 2.6 yards per return while forcing 26 fair catches.
« Roy ranked third among returning punters in The American Conference after averaging 40.6 yards per punt in 2016.
« Roy dropped all three of his punts vs. Rice inside the Owls' 20-yard line, with one inside the 10-yard line, forcing two fair catches and holding Rice without a punt return. He earned The American's Special Teams Player of the Week honor for his efforts.
« Roy continued to show his precision vs. Texas Tech, dropping three of his four punts inside the Red Raiders' 10-yard line and a fourth inside the 20 with just one touchback. His punts resulted in three fair catches and only two returns for a total of one yard.
« Roy leads The American with 12 punts inside the 20-yard line and leads the league with 54.5 percent of his punts landing inside the opponents 20-yard line.
« Prior to arriving in Houston, Roy won the longest kick competition at the AFL grand final in Melbourne, Australia, after booting a torpedo 73 meters, which equates to 79 yards. Roy, who stands 6-7, also has a personal-best hang time of 5.4 seconds.
KICKING IT |
« Yet another new name in the Houston special teams, junior Caden Novikoff walked on to the Houston program in training camp and grabbed the kicking reigns.
« He has successfully converted multiple field goals in three of four games this season and leads Houston in scoring this year 27 points.
« Novikoff connected on a career-long 45-yard field goal vs. Texas Tech while converting all three extra point attempts.
SNAP IT TO ME |
« Unfortunately Houston lost its starting long snapper in senior Byron Simpson in late May due to a non-football related medical condition. The Cat Spring, Texas, native started all 13 games at the position in 2016.
« The Cougars turned to Simpson's backup in 2016, junior Nick Wildberger. The San Antonio, Texas, native redshirted in 2016 and made his debut at Arizona, totaling 10 long snaps.
