Houston Shuts Out Grambling, 45-0

Saturday, September 18

Houston, Texas

6 p.m.

University of Houston

2-1 , 0-0

Grambling

1-2 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Grambling State	0	0	0	0	0
Houston	7	14	21	3	45

Game Program

Photo by: For Houston Athletics

9/18/2021 9:09:00 PM | Football

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Cougars dominate home opener, improve to 2-1 on season

By: Armando Yanez

HOUSTON – Houston Football powered past Grambling with a 45-0 shutout victory in its home opener led by freshman running back Alton McCaskill's 16 carries for 114 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday night at TDECU Stadium.

Junior quarterback Ike Ogbogu stepped into the game in the first quarter after junior starting quarterback Clayton Tune exited on the team's third drive due to injury. Ogbogu completed 14-for-22 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns.

Houston (2-1) has now won seven straight home openers, improving to 45-30 all-time while winning 12 of its last 14 home non-conference matchups dating to Sept. 6, 2014, against Grambling.

Grambling (1-2) has been shut out in back-to-back road games this season, following its 37-0 defeat at the hands of Southern Miss last week. The shutout was Houston's first since blanking Lamar, 42-0 on Sept. 10, 2016.

The Cougars defense held the Tigers to 102 yards of total offense, picking up three sacks and one forced fumble in the process.

Sophomore wide receiver Nathaniel Dell hauled in both of Ogbogu's touchdown passes, racking up a team-high eight receptions alongside a career-high 134 yards along with the two scores.

Senior cornerback Marcus Jones picked up the momentum early in second quarter after cutting through Grambling's special teams' unit for a 48-yard punt return touchdown to extend Houston's lead to 14-0.

The score moved Jones into seventh all-time in Houston career punt return yards ahead of Billy Polson's 367 (1952-54).

Houston has now opened all three games this season with a 10+ point lead at halftime while also holding opponents to seven points or less in the first half. The Cougars led Grambling, 21-0 at the break.

McCaskill's performance marks his second straight multi-score game while making him the first Houston freshman to record 100+ rushing yards in a game since Mulbah Car's 109-yard performance against Lamar in 2016.

Houston gets back in action when Navy comes to town for the Cougars' first American Athletic Conference game of the season at TDECU Stadium next Saturday at 6 p.m. Tickets are available by visiting UHCougars.com/tickets or by calling 713 GO COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours