Will Houston keep the good times going or will UCF find a way to keep this one close?
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The Cougars (7-0, 4-0) ran up 600 yards and scored 24 points in a mid-game span of 31/2 minutes, winning for the fifth time by 21 points or more. The former Ohio State offensive coordinator, despite being a half-season into his first FBS head coaching job, has already been mentioned as a top candidate for Power Five coaching vacancies. The Cougars put up 17 points in the final 2:27 of the first half and received the ball to start the second.
Houston cornerback Brandon Wilson scored on an 85-yard fumble return on the third play of the game.
Interceptions by William Jackson III and Donald Gage set up another touchdown and a field goal in the final 50 seconds of the half. Cougar quarterback Greg Ward Jr., who entered the game seventh in the nation in total offense, accounted for 256 yards of offense and two touchdowns. Houston continued their scoring at a blistering pace, posting two more scores on a 67-yard shovel pass and a 29-yard run, bringing the game into blowout territory at 45-10. The game was played at Gillette Stadium, home of the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. This winless Knights have consistently performed poorly in the second half of games and the Houston game was no different. It was the 10th career 100-yard rushing game for the 220-pound senior running back.Hou_Farrow 30 run (Cummings kick), 14:10.
The Midshipmen stopped the Green Wave on a fourth-and-1 midway through the third quarter and took over at their 34-yard line. On the possession before that, he had a 16-yard touchdown run nullified by a holding call….
The Cougars finally woke up on offense on the ensuing drive, and cruised from there. The rushing defense is 11 nationally, allowing just 98.5 yards per game.
Farrow came back and scored twice in the second half on runs of 30 and 24 yards. Ward now has the AAC record with 15 rushing touchdowns this season.
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The Green Wave tied the score at 7 on a 19-yard run by sophomore tailback Dontrell Hilliard with 10:43 left in the half, capping a 7-play, 60-yard drive. Four turnovers, including three Holman interceptions added to the debacle. Although that statistic can be thrown out the window when you’re talking about this game that features an undefeated Cougars team against a Knights squad that is still in search of win number one. “The offense punted on our first few drives which was not indicative of the way we have played so far”. He is also the team’s leading rusher, averaging 105 yards per game with 14 touchdowns. The No. 21 Cougars raised their season record to 7-0 and 4-0 in American Athletic Conference play. SMU (1-6, 0-3) has lost five straight during a stretch in which the Mustangs have yielded 240 points.
