Football Set to Face Rice at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, in Regular-Season Finale
Nov. 28, 2008
GAME 11
GAME NOTES:
Houston Notes vs. Rice (Nov. 29, 2008) in PDF Format HOUSTON -The University of Houston football team wraps up the regular season and looks to clinch a spot in the Conference USA Championship Game when it meets league- and crosstown-rival Rice at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, at Rice Stadium. With a win over the Owls, the Cougars will claim at least a share of the C-USA West Division for the third consecutive season and play host to East Division champion East Carolina during the C-USA Championship Game on Dec. 6. The game features two of the top-three teams in Conference USA with each school averaging more than 40 points and 460 yards of total offense per game.
Most recently, the Cougars assembled the biggest come-from-behind win in school history on the way to a 42-37 win over C-USA rival UTEP last weekend on John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium. Trailing 28-9 late in the third quarter, the Cougars scored 26 points in the final period to take the win and keep their C-USA championship hopes alive. Sophomore quarterback Case Keenum leads the way with 4,274 yards and 38 touchdowns on 345-of-502 passing and ranks among the nation's top-two leaders in both passing yards and total offense yards per game. The Abilene native has throw for at least 300 yards and two touchdowns every game this season, including a career-high 480 yards against the Miners last weekend. Senior tight end Mark Hafner paces the receivers with 81 catches and 11 touchdowns, while redshirt freshman Tyron Carrier is tops with 876 receiving yards. On the ground, running back Bryce Beall became the first freshman in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, piling up 1,024 and a team-high 11 touchdowns. Defensively, freshman linebacker Marcus McGraw tops the Cougars with 85 tackles, while senior defensive end and All-America candidate Phillip Hunt leads the way with 15.5 tackles for a loss of 99 yards, including a C-USA best 11.0 sacks. Junior cornerback Brandon Brinkley and freshman cornerback Loyce Means lead the secondary with four interceptions apiece.
Saturday's game also will be televised live on CBS College Sports (DirecTV channel 613/Dish Network channel 152) with Carter Blackburn calling the play-by-play action and Aaron Taylor as the analyst.
The two teams also will fight for the Bayou Bucket Trophy, presented to the winner of the annual series since 1974. The Cougars bring a three-game winning streak into Saturday's game and have not lost to the Owls since a 10-7 setback on Sept. 5, 2004, in the series opener for both teams at Reliant Stadium. However, the wins in that streak have been close with an average margin of nine points per game for the Cougars. The Cougars also have posted a 14-4 all-time record against the Owls at Rice Stadium.
Senior quarterback Chase Clement paces the Rice offense with 3,431 yards and 36 touchdowns on 268-of-405 passing. When the Owls go to the air, wideouts Jarett Dillard and James Casey are the leading targets, hauling in a combined 167 receptions for 2,226 yards and 28 touchdowns. Junior tailback C.J. Ugokwe leads the Owls with 645 yards, while Clements' 10 rushing touchdowns leads all players. Defensively, junior free safety Andrew Sendejo tops the team with 77 tackles, while sophomore defensive end Scott Solomon has posted a team-high seven tackles for a loss of 33 yards, including 3.5 sacks. Junior cornerback Chris Douglas leads all Rice defenders with three interceptions.
|
