GAMENOTES: Houston 24, Navy 14
11/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
Recap | Final Stats | Photo Gallery 1 
| Photo Gallery 2
BY THE NUMBERS1-0 2 2 3 3.5 4 4-3 5 6 7 7 7-4 7-5 8 9 14 18 31-13 35 61 79 142 143-112-5 145 223 433-360-15 29,252 |
GAME NOTES
• Houston improved to 7-4 in 2017, finishing second in The American West Division.
• Houston improved to 433-360-15 all-time.
• Houston won the toss and elected to defer. Navy chose to receive and defended the west 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 29,252.
HEAD COACH Major Applewhite
• Applewhite improved to 7-5 during his Houston career.
• Applewhite improved to 7-4 in the regular season during his career.
• Applewhite improved to 4-3 in day games.
• Applewhite improved to 4-2 at TDECU Stadium during his career.
• Applewhite improved to 1-0 in games played on Fridays.
• Applewhite improved to 1-0 against Navy during his career.
NAVY SERIES HISTORY
• Houston is 3-1 all-time in the series and 2-0 when playing Navy in TDECU Stadium.
BY MONTHS
• Houston improved to 143-112-5 in games played during the month of November.
BY DAYS
• Houston improved to 31-13 all-time in games played on Fridays.
OFFENSE
• With a nine-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter from sophomore quarterback D'Eriq King, Houston has now scored in 223 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.
• Houston recorded a 14-play scoring drive that spanned 90 yards and 5:32 of game time. The drive was the longest in terms of plays in the game.
DEFENSE
• The Houston defense shutout Navy in the first quarter. The Cougars have held opponents scoreless in the opening quarter in seven games in 2017.
• With one turnover forced, Houston now has 145 since 2013, the most among FBS schools.
• Houston held Navy to 79 yards of offense in the second half. The Midshipmen had 212 yards of offense in the first half.
• With 291 yards, Houston held Navy under 300 yards of total offense for the first time since against Army on Dec. 10, 2016.
BIG PLAYS
• Houston recorded five plays of 20 yards or more against Navy.
D'Eriq King
• Friday's game marked sophomore D'Eriq King's third career start at quarterback.
• King got Houston on the scoreboard first with a nine-yard rushing touchdown with 2:21 left in the first quarter. The rushing score is his seventh of his career, with all coming in 2017.
• King later added a two-yard rushing touchdown with 3:27 left in the third quarter to record his third career game with multiple rushing touchdowns, all coming in the last four games. He also had two scores on the ground at No. 17/14 USF on Oct. 28 and at Tulane on Nov. 18.
• King finished 21-for-27 passing for 277 yards and one touchdown. He recorded career highs in both completions and attempts.
• On the ground, King finished with 57 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.
Brandon McDowell
• After a Navy three-and-out, senior defensive back Brandon McDowell recorded a season-long 18-yard punt return in the first quarter. His previous high was nine yards at Tulsa on Oct. 14.
Linell Bonner
• Senior wide receiver Linell Bonner recorded catches of 32 and 24 yards on consecutive plays to set up a Houston touchdown late in the first quarter.
• Bonner finished with eight catches for 98 yards.
• Bonner has recorded at least six receptions in nine of Houston's 11 games in 2017.
Ed Oliver
• Named a Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy finalist, sophomore defensive end Ed Oliver recorded his seventh game of 2017 with at least five tackles.
• Oliver registered a sack for a two-yard loss in the third quarter and followed with a sack for a five-yard loss in the fourth quarter. His two sacks tie his career high, a mark achieved twice and last against No. 3/3 Louisville on Nov. 17, 2016.
• With two sacks against Navy, Oliver now has 5.5 for the season and 10.5 for his career.
• The two sacks are Oliver's 35th and 36th career tackles for loss in only 24 career games. He entered Friday leading the nation with a career average of 1.46 tackles for loss per game.
• With his 10th tackle of the game in the third quarter, Oliver has recorded double-digit tackles in four games for his career and second of the season. Oliver recorded 11 tackles in Houston's season opener at Arizona on Sept. 9.
• Oliver finished with 14 tackles, a career high. His previous high was 12 at Tulsa on Oct. 15, 2016.
• Of his 14 tackles, Oliver recorded 3.5 for loss to tie his career high set twice and last against San Diego State in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 17, 2016.
Matthew Adams
• Senior linebacker Matthew Adams tackled quarterback Zach Abey at the Houston two-yard line with 9:45 left in the second quarter to force a turnover on downs.
Nick Thurman
• Senior defensive end Nick Thurman combined with junior defensive end Jerard Carter to sack quarterback Zach Abey for a loss of four yards on Navy's first drive of the second half. The half sack gives Thurman 2.0 for the year and 4.5 for his career.
Jerard Carter
• Junior defensive end Jerard Carter combined with senior defensive end Nick Thurman to sack quarterback Zach Abey for a loss of four yards on Navy's first drive of the second half. The half sack gives Carter 1.5 for the year and 2.0 for his career.
Steven Dunbar
• Senior receiver Steven Dunbar recorded a 34-yard reception on Houston's second drive of the third quarter.
• Dunbar put Houston ahead 21-14 with a 61-yard touchdown reception at the 14:00 mark in the fourth quarter. The score is his third of the season and 11th overall of his career.
• Dunbar finished with 142 yards receiving on eight receptions. The 100-yard receiving game is Dunbar's third of the season, including Houston's last two home games, and sixth overall of his career.
Alexander Myres
• Junior cornerback Alexander Myres finished with eight tackles, a career high. His previous high was six tackles, a mark achieved twice and last at No. 17/14 USF on Oct. 28.
• Myres added his first career interception with a pick and 13-yard return to the Houston 26-yard line with 2:59 left in the game.
D'Juan Hines
• Senior linebacker D'Juan Hines finished with 11 tackles, his fourth double-digit tackle performance of the season and fifth overall of his career.
Derek McLemore
• Senior wide receiver Derek McLemore recorded a career-long 22-yard reception in the fourth quarter.
Caden Novikoff
• Junior kicker Caden Novikoff recorded a 35-yard field goal at the 7:57 mark of the fourth quarter for his eight consecutive field goal conversion.
