Postgame Notes: Houston 19, Arizona 16
9/10/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
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BY THE NUMBERS1 1 1 1 1.5 2-1 4 11 25 28 72 132 427-356-15 43,334 |
GAME NOTES
• Houston improved to 1-0 in 2017.
• Houston improved to 427-356-15 all-time.
• Arizona won the toss and elected to defer. Houston received the opening kickoff and defended the south 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 43,334.
HEAD COACH Major Applewhite
• Applewhite improved to 1-1 during his Houston career.
• Applewhite improved to 1-0 in the regular season during his career.
• Applewhite improved to 1-0 against Arizona during his career.
• Applewhite improved to 1-0 in road games during his career
• Applewhite improved to 1-0 in games played on Saturdays.
• Applewhite improved to 1-0 in night games.
ARIZONA SERIES HISTORY
• Houston improved to 2-1 against Arizona with Saturday's win.
• Saturday's game marked the first meeting between the two teams since 37-3 Arizona win on Sept. 6, 1986, in Tucson, Ariz.
• Houston improved to 2-1 against the Wildcats in Tucson, Ariz.
• The two teams face one another at TDECU Stadium in Houston on Sept. 8, 2018.
vs. PAC-12
• Saturday's win was the Cougars' first victory over a current PAC-12 member since a 38-34 victory over UCLA in Houston on Sept. 3, 2011.
• It was the Cougars' first road victory over a PAC-12 team since a 36-7 victory at Arizona State on Sept. 23, 1989. Houston defeated Arizona State 62-45 on Dec. 1, 1990, in Tokyo.
SEASON OPENER HISTORY
• Houston improved to 38-32-2 in season openers during its history.
• Cougars have won their last three season openers and four of the last five. Only a 27-7 loss to UTSA inside TDECU Stadium in Houston on Aug. 29, 2014, prevents a longer streak.
• Saturday's game marked the first time Houston opened the season on the road since a 48-27 loss at Oregon on Sept. 1, 2007.
• Saturday's game is the latest that Houston Football opened a season since the 1988 Houston team claimed a 60-0 win at Louisiana Tech on Sept. 10, 1988.
OFFENSE
• With 19 points, Houston scored points in its 213th consecutive game. The Cougars have not been shut out since a a 48-0 loss at No. 15 Texas on Sept. 23, 2000.
DEFENSE
• The Cougars' safety with 10:53 left in the third quarter was Houston's first safety since Tyus Bowser recorded one against No. 3/3 Louisville inside TDECU Stadium on Nov. 17, 2016
STARTING DEBUTS
• Junior tight end Romello Brooker, junior quarterback Kyle Allen, senior wide receiver John Leday, senior defensive lineman Reggie Chevis and senior cornerback Alexander Myres made the first starts of their Houston careers.
Kyle Allen
• Junior quarterback Kyle Allen made the 15th start of his collegiate career Saturday but his first with the Cougars. Allen competed in 20 games with 14 starts (nine in 2015, five in 2014) during his first two seasons at Texas A&M.
Dillon Birden
• With his 3-yard touchdown run with 45 seconds left in the first half, senior running back Dillon Birden recorded his first and the Cougars' first rushing touchdown of the season. It also was the seventh rushing touchdown and the eighth touchdown of his career.
Linell Bonner
• With his 5-yard touchdown reception with 5:00 left in the second quarter, senior wide receiver Linell Bonner scored his first and Houston's first touchdown of the season. It also was the ninth touchdown of his career.
• After posting nine receptions against Arizona, Bonner now has nine games during his career with 7+ reception.
• With nine receptions, Bonner finished the game with 132 receptions in his career.
• With 132 career receptions, Bonner moved into 21st in Houston history. Up next in the Houston records book is Brian Robinson, who finished with 136 receptions from 1998 to 2002.
• Bonner finished Saturday's game with 1,494 career receiving yards to move into 27th in Houston history. He moved past Carl Hilton, who recorded 1,449 receiving yards from 1982 to 1985. Up next in the Houston records book is Brian Williams, who posted 1,516 career receiving yards from 1987 to 1990.
Steven Dunbar
• With six receptions, senior wide receiver Steven Dunbar moved into a tie with Jeron Harvey for 27th place in Houston career history. Dunbar finished the game with 110 receptions during his collegiate career. Up next in the Houston records book is Marcus Grant, who posted 116 receptions from 1989 to 1991.
• With 72 receiving yards, Dunbar moved into 29th place in Houston career history. Dunbar finished the game with 1,432 career receiving yards. Up next in the Houston records book is Carl Hilton, who recorded 1,449 receiving yards from 1982 to 1985.
Keith Corbin
• Sophomore wide receiver Keith Corbin set a career long with his 49-yard reception late in the second quarter. His reception topped his previous long of 32 yards against San Diego State in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 17, 2017.
John Leday
• On the first kickoff return of his career, senior wide receiver John Leday returned a late second-quarter kickoff 81 yards before being tripped up at the Arizona 16.
• With four receptions, Leday posted a career high. His total topped his previous high of two receptions against Temple in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game against Temple on Dec. 5, 2015, inside TDECU Stadium in Houston.
Caden Novikoff
• With his 25-yard field goal with 9:33 left in the first quarter, junior kicker Caden Novkioff booted the first field goal of his Houston career.
• Novikoff's PAT with 5:00 left in the second quarter was the first of his collegiate career.
Ed Oliver
• On Arizona's first possession of the second half, sophomore defensive lineman Ed Oliver forced his first fumble and the Cougars' first fumble of the season. It also was the fourth forced fumble of his career.
• With 11 tackles, Oliver recorded the third game of his career with 10+ tackles. Saturday's game was the 14th game of Oliver's collegiate career.
Garrett Davis
• With 11 tackles, Davis recorded the second game of his career with 10+ tackles.
• Davis' interception at the 3:49 mark of the fourth quarter was his and the Cougars' first interception of the season. It also was the first interception of his career.
Alexander Myres
• On Arizona's first possession of the second half, senior cornerback Alexander Myres recovered his first fumble and the Cougars' first fumble of the season. It also was the first fumble recover of his career.
BY MONTHS
• Houston improved to 105-95-3 in games played during the month of September.
BY DAYS
• Houston improved to 372-322-14 all-time in games played on Saturdays.
