University of Houston
SMU
GAMENOTES: Houston 35, SMU 22
10/7/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
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BY THE NUMBERS
1-0
Head Coach Major Applewhite's record against SMU
2-1
Record for Head Coach Major Applewhite in TDECU Stadium
3
Yard touchdown pass from Kyle Postma to Ellis Jefferson
3-0
Head Coach Major Applewhite record in night games
3-1
Record for Kyle Postma as Houston's starting quarterback
3:59
Longest scoring drive of season
4
Career starts for quarterback Kyle Postma
4-1
Record in 2017
4-2
Record for Head Coach Major Applewhite
5
Plays of 20 yards or more for Houston's offense
5
PATs for Caden Novikoff
11
Straight wins in The American inside TDECU Stadium
11
Tackles for Isaiah Johnson, a new career high
13
Punts inside the 20-yard line for Dane Roy on the season
16
Yard rushing score for Duke Catalon
18
Yard touchdown pass from Kyle Postma to D'Eriq King
21-11-1
Houston's all-time record vs. SMU
22
Yard completion from Kyle Postma to Steven Dunbar
22
Yard touchdown pass from D'Eriq King to Kyle Postma off a reverse
34
Wins since 2014, tied for most among Texas FBS programs
34
Wins by Houston 2017 senior class, tied for fifth in program history
35
Yard kick return for John Leday
45
Yard rush for Duke Catalon
52
Yard rushing score for Duke Catalon
65
Receiving yards for Steven Dunbar
95
Longest scoring drive in terms of yards on the season
100
Kick return yards for John Leday
137
Turnovers forced since 2013, most among FBS schools
145-129-6
Houston's all-time record in October
177
Rushing yards for Duke Catalon
217
Consecutive games that Houston's offense has scored
375-323-14
All-time record for Houston on Saturdays
383
100-yard rushing performances for a Houston player
430-357-15
All-time record for Houston
31,153
Attendance for Saturday's game
GAME NOTES
• Houston improved to 4-1 in 2017.
• Houston improved to 430-357-15 all-time.
• Houston won the toss and elected to defer. SMU chose to receive. Cougars defended the east end zone. Junior safety Garrett Davis, senior linebacker Matthews Adams, senior running back Dillon Birden and senior wide receiver Steven Dunbar were captains.
• Attendance was 31,153.
HEAD COACH Major Applewhite
• Applewhite improved to 4-2 during his Houston career.
• Applewhite improved to 4-1 in the regular season during his career.
• Applewhite improved to 4-2 in games played on Saturdays.
• Applewhite improved to 3-0 in night games.
• Applewhite improved to 2-1 in home games during his career.
• Applewhite improved to 1-0 against SMU during his career.
SMU SERIES HISTORY
• Houston is 21-11-1 all time in the series and 11-5-1 when playing SMU at home.
• Saturday's game marked the first meeting between the two teams since a 38-22 loss at SMU on Oct. 22, 2016.
BY MONTHS
• Houston improved to 145-129-6 in games played during the month of October.
BY DAYS
• Houston improved to 375-323-14 all-time in games played on Saturdays.
SCORING
• After D'Eriq King's 18-yard touchdown reception with 6:59 in the first quarter, the Cougars have now scored in 217 consecutive games dating back to a 48-0 loss at No. 15 Texas on Sept. 23, 2000. Major Applewhite split repetitions at quarterback for the Longhorns in the game.
IN TEXAS
• Houston picked up its 34th win since the start of the 2014 season, tied with TCU for the most among FBS schools in Texas.
2017 SENIORS
• The 2017 senior class recorded its 34th win, tying for the fifth best mark in program history.
AT HOME
• The victory marked Houston's 11th straight American Athletic Conference win at home.
OFFENSE
• With a 10-play, 95-yard drive that spanned 3:59 seconds, Houston posted its longest scoring drive in terms of both yardage and time of possession on the season.
• Senior wide receiver Steven Dunbar hauled in a 22-yard catch midway through the second quarter. On the same drive, sophomore quarterback D'Eriq King hit senior quarterback Kyle Postma for a 22-yard touchdown pass off a reverse with 7:45 left in the second quarter.
• Late in the second quarter, junior running back Duke Catalon broke for a 45-yard rush.
• Catalon added a 52-yard rushing touchdown with 7:16 left in the third quarter.
OFFENSE LINE
• The Houston offensive line didn't allow a sack to SMU. The Mustangs entered the game leading the nation with 21 sacks on the season.
DEFENSE
• The Houston defense held SMU to 22 points. The Mustangs entered the game ranked third in the nation in scoring offense at 48.2 points per game and was one of two schools to score 36-plus points in every game played.
• SMU's 22 points marks the program's fewest scored since a 51-7 loss to Memphis at home on Nov. 5, 2016, and fewest on the road since a 45-20 loss at Temple on Oct. 1, 2016.
• The Houston defense held SMU under seven points in the second quarter and shutout the Mustangs in the fourth quarter. The Cougars have held their opponent to seven or less points in 17 of 20 quarters to begin the season.
• In holding SMU scoreless in the fourth quarter, it marked the first time the Mustangs were shutout in a quarter on the season.
• With two turnovers forced, Houston now has 137 since 2013, the most among FBS schools.
• With a pair of interceptions from senior safety Terrell Williams, Houston now has multiple turnovers in 48 of its last 65 games.
• Williams' two interceptions mark back-to-back games in which a Cougar has record two picks. Junior safety Garrett Davis recorded a pair of interceptions at Temple on Sept. 30, 2017.
• Houston forced two three-and-outs.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Senior wide receiver John Leday had a 35-yard kick return in the third quarter.
• The play give Houston 31 plays of 20 or more yards this season.
Kyle Postma
• Senior quarterback Kyle Postma made his fourth career start against SMU. Postma also made starts on Nov. 21, 2015, at UConn, on Sept. 10, 2016, against Lamar and Sept. 30, 2017, at Temple.
• Postma found sophomore quarterback D'Eriq King for an 18-yard touchdown pass with 6:59 left in the first quarter.
• With a 22-yard touchdown reception from King off a reverse with 7:45 left in the second quarter, Postma recorded his first receiving touchdown of the season and second overall of his career.
• Postma found senior wide receiver Ellis Jefferson for a three-yard touchdown pass with 1:08 left in the second quarter. The score was Postma's fourth touchdown pass of the season and seventh overall of his career.
• Postma finished 19-for-27 passing with 176 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
• With two passing touchdowns, Postma recorded his first career multi-passing touchdown game.
• Postma also finished with 22 receiving yards and one touchdown through the air and added 26 yards on the ground on seven carries.
• With two touchdown passes and one receiving touchdown, Postma recorded his first career game with a score throwing and receiving.
• Postma improved to 3-1 in his career as a starting quarterback.
D'Eriq King
• Sophomore quarterback D'Eriq King hauled in a 18-yard touchdown pass to put Houston on the board with 6:59 remaining in the first quarter. The receiving touchdown is his second of the season and third overall of his career. The score is also his third overall touchdown of the season.
• With a 22-yard touchdown pass to Postma off a reverse with 7:45 left in the second quarter, King recorded his first passing touchdown of the season and second overall of his career.
Steven Dunbar
• With his second catch of the game, senior wide receiver Steven Dunbar moved up to 22 all-time at Houston for career receptions, passing Daniel Spencer (129; 2011-13). Dunbar has 134 career catches.
• With 65 yards, Dunbar moved up to 19th all-time at Houston for career receiving yards with 1,710 yards, passing Freddie Gilbert (1,672; 1991-92), Demarcus Ayers (1,687; 2014-16), Brian Robinson (1,705; 1998-2002) and Charles Sims (1,707; 2009-12).
Duke Catalon
• Junior running back Duke Catalon broke for a 45-yard rush late in the second quarter. The rush is a career long. His previous high was 35 yards at Texas State on Sept. 24, 2016.
• Catalon bettered his career long with a 52-yard rushing touchdown with 7:16 left in the third quarter.
• Catalon added his second rushing touchdown of the game with a 16-yard score with 13:24 left in the fourth quarter. The touchdown is his third of the season and seventh overall of his career.
• Catalon finished with 177 rushing yards, a career long and his first career 100-yard rushing game. His previous high was 88 against No. 3 Oklahoma in the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff on Sept. 3, 2016, inside NRG Stadium. He also tied his career high with 22 carries, established in the same game against OU.
• Catalon's 177 yards tied for the 49th best rushing performance in program history and are the most since Greg Ward Jr. recorded 182 yards at Tulsa on Oct. 3, 2015, and the most for a running back since Bryce Beall rushed for 195 versus UTEP on Sept. 10, 2010.
• Catalon's rushing performance is the 383rd 100-yard rushing game for a Houston player.
• With two scores on the ground, Catalon recorded his first career multi-rushing touchdown game of his career.
Ellis Jefferson
• Senior wide receiver Ellis Jefferson hauled in a three-yard touchdown reception with 1:08 left in the second quarter. The score is the first of Jefferson's career reception and touchdown reception in a Houston uniform.
Isaiah Johnson
• With 11 tackles, junior cornerback Isaiah Johnson recorded a new career high. His previous high was eight against Texas Tech on Sept. 23, 2017, inside TDECU Stadium.
John Leday
• Senior wide receiver John Leday had a 35-yard kick return in the third quarter. Leday entered seventh in the nation in kick return average with 36.4 yards per return.
• Leday finished with four kick returns for 100 yards.
Joeal Williams
• Junior cornerback Joeal Williams registered his first sack of the season and second of his career with a eight-yard loss to force an SMU field goal late in the third quarter.
Matthew Adams
• Senior linebacker Matthew Adams registered a half sack late in the fourth quarter. The sack was his first of season and gives him 6.5 for his career.
Reggie Chevis
• Senior defensive lineman Reggie Chevis registered a half sack late in the fourth quarter. The sack was the first of his season and career.
• Chevis finished with 1.5 tackles for loss, a new career high.
Caden Novikoff
• Junior kicker Caden Novikoff finished five-for-five on PATs.
Terrell Williams
• Senior safety Terrell Williams broke up a pass midway through the fourth quarter to force a turnover on downs for SMU. Williams entered averaging 1.0 passes defended per game, which ranked tied for sixth in the American Athletic Conference.
• Williams intercepted SMU quarterback Ben Hicks late in the fourth quarter to force Houston's first defensive turnover of the game.
• Williams added another interception of Hicks with just under three minutes late in the fourth quarter.
• With two interceptions, he recorded a new career high.
Alexander Myres
• Junior cornerback Alexander Myres registered a career-high six tackles and matched another career high with one pass breakup. Both previous highs came against Rice on Sept. 16, 2017, inside TDECU Stadium.
Khalil Williams
• Senior safety Khalil Williams finished with nine tackles, a new season high and one off his career high.
Dane Roy
• Sophomore punter Dane Roy downed one punt inside the 20-yard line to give him 13 on the season.
