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Football Wraps Up Regular-Season Road Slate at UCF This Weekend
Nov. 13, 2009
GAME 8
GAME NOTES
The Cougars, who stand at No. 12 in the latest USA Today Coaches' Poll, No. 13 in the Associated Press ranking and at No. 15 in the most recent BCS standings, look to stay atop the C-USA West Division. Houston (8-1 • 4-1 C-USA West) enters this weekend after one of the most thrilling wins in school history. Trailing 45-53 late in the fourth quarter, the Cougars scored nine points in the final 21 seconds to take a 46-45 win at C-USA rival Tulsa in Oklahoma last weekend. Redshirt freshman kicker Matt Hogan provided the winning margin with a career-long 51-yard field goal as time expired to lead the Cougars to the improbable victory. It was the first win for the Cougars in program history on the final play of a game. Junior quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Case Keenum continues to lead the league and the nation in passing yards (423.9), total offense (434.4) and points responsible for (21.1) per game. The Abilene, Texas, native has thrown for 3,815 yards with 28 touchdowns and only five interceptions on 325-of-458 passing through nine games this season. By moving the Cougars into field-goal range against Tulsa, Keenum recorded the fifth comeback of his career (third in 2009) in the final minute of a game. Junior wide receiver James Cleveland leads the Cougars and ranks among the national leaders with 74 catches for 853 yards and tops all wideouts across the country with 11 receiving touchdowns. Cleveland is just one of six Cougars who have caught at least 25 passes and at least one touchdown. Sophomore receivers Patrick Edwards and Tyron Carrier have combined for 120 receptions, 1,392 yards and seven touchdowns, while freshman Charles Sims has come out of the backfield to record 40 catches for 494 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore running back Bryce Beall leads the team with 595 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 126 carries, while Sims leads all backs with 5.4 yards per carry. Defensively, linebacker Marcus McGraw leads the Cougars and continues to rank among the national leaders with 95 tackles. The Arlington, Texas, native also has added two sacks, four pass breakups and forced two fumbles to spearhead the Cougar defense. Senior cornerback Brandon Brinkley and junior cornerback Jamal Robinson are tied for the team lead with three interceptions apiece.
Quarterback Senior Brett Hodges leads the Knights with 1,558 yard and 10 touchdowns on 120-of-210 passing, while sophomore running back Brynn Harvey tops the team with 679 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 173 carries. Sophomore receiver A.J. Guyton leads the Knights with 28 catches for 431 yards, while junior wideout Kamar Aiken is tops with four touchdowns through the air. Defensively, senior linebacker Cory Hogue paces the team with 72 tackles, including 11 for a loss of 33 yards. Freshman cornerback Josh Robinson leads the squad with four interceptions, while junior defensive end Bruce Miller and senior defensive end Jarvis Geathers have each added nine sacks. Ironically, this will be the third team that the Cougars have faced this season who played Texas the week before UH. Texas Tech (Sept. 26) and Conference USA-rival UTEP (Oct. 3) each faced the Longhorns the week prior to their showdown against the Cougars.
In addition, Saturday's game will be televised live on CBS College Sports (DirecTV ch. 613 • Dish Network ch. 152 • Comcast ch. 106) with Matt McConnell calling the play-by-play action and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila providing analysis.
Saturday's game will be the first time that the two teams have met since the Cougars enjoyed a 51-31 win at Robertson Stadium on Oct. 28, 2006. The Cougars are 0-1 in Orlando after the Knight claimed a 31-29 win on Nov. 5, 2005.
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