Football Opens C-USA Play at No. 23 East Carolina this Weekend
Sept. 26, 2008
Houston Game Notes (Sept. 27, 2008) in PDF Format
East Carolina Game Notes (Sept. 27, 2008) in PDF Format
Conference USA Notebook (Sept. 27, 2008) in PDF Format
GAME 5
The Cougars (1-3, 0-0 C-USA) come into the game on the heels of a tough 28-25 loss at Colorado State last weekend. Trailing 21-0 late in the first half, the Cougars mounted a comeback that fell just short when a Case Keenum pass was intercepted in the end zone with only two seconds remaining. This season, Keenum leads the Cougars with 1,521 yards and 16 touchdowns on 139-of-215 passing. With numbers like that, the Abilene native ranks among the nation's top individual offensive leaders in multiple categories. Senior tight end Mark Hafner is Keenum's most frequent target, hauling in 30 catches for 319 yards and seven touchdowns. Junior L.J. Castile is second on the team with four touchdown grabs, while redshirt freshman wide receiver Patrick Edwards has posted 22 catches for 262 yards. Defensively, junior linebacker Matt Nicholson leads the Cougars with 30 tackles, while senior defensive end Phillip Hunt is tops with five tackles for a loss of 26 yards, including three sacks for 21 yards. Senior safety Ernest Miller, junior cornerback Brandon Brinkley and freshman linebacker Nick Saenz each have recorded interceptions with Miller's 71-yard return at Oklahoma State ranking as the eighth longest in school history. Fans can hear the game live on 790 AM The Sports Animal with Tom Franklin calling the play-by-play action, Ted Pardee providing color analysis and Chuck Brown reporting from the sideline. The pregame show is slated to begin one hour before kickoff. In addition, the game will be televised live on CBS College Sports (DirecTV channel 613/Dish Network 152) with Tom Hart calling the play-by-play action and Trev Alberts providing color analysis. It will be the first of several Cougar games to be televised in 2008. Cougar fans unable to attend this weekend's game can join with other UH supporters at Bubba's Sports Bar & Grill (622 Washington Ave.), the official sponsor for away broadcasts of UH games. All fans can enjoy free chips and salsa in a private party room as well as drink specials during the games. Fans also can follow live stats over the Internet by clicking the Gametracker link at UHCougars.com. For the second straight season, the Cougars will meet the Pirates on the gridiron. East Carolina has posted a 5-3 record in the all-time series, which began in 1997. The Pirates also can boast of the most recent success after escaping with a 37-35 win at Houston's Robertson Stadium on Sept. 29, 2007. That loss snapped the Cougars' two-game winning streak against the Pirates. Saturday's game will be the first meeting between the two teams in North Carolina since the Cougars enjoyed a 27-13 win on Sept. 30, 2003. The Cougars have posted a 2-1 all-time record against the Pirates in Greenville. The Pirates come into the game after a 30-24 loss to NC State in overtime last weekend. Quarterback Pat Pinkney leads the offense with 917 yards and five touchdowns on 82-of-115 passing, while Jon Williams is tops with 171 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 38 carries. Dwayne Harris leads the ECU wideouts with 28 catches for 296 yards, while Jamar Bryant paces the team with a pair of receiving touchdowns. Defensively, Pierre Bell leads the team with 31 tackles, while C.J. Wilson is tops with 3.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for a loss.
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