Case Keenum's Huge Performance Helps Lead Coogs Past UCLA
HOUSTON - Eager to take the field and pick up where he left off after last seasons serious knee injury, Case Keenum funnelled all of his excitement and energy into a 38-34 winning performance (0-1) over UCLA that proved he is ready to lead the University of Houston Cougars (1-0) to a successful season and make sure his name is not forgotten when it comes time to talk about the Heisman Trophy.
Keenum certainly led the Cougar offense much like a heisman candidate with his 30-for-40 passing performance. With Keenum focused on getting the Cougar offense in high gear, U of H put up 31 points over the first two quarters of play to take a 31-14 lead into the locker room at halftime.
"Our guys were focused at the beginning of the game and I liked the way we started the game offensively. We talked about starting fast and playing fast, and our coaching staff did a great job emphasizing that for the game," Cougar head coach Kevin Sumlin said.
While the Cougar offense was rolling along their defense was getting it done on the other side of the ball as they proved to be a stiff challenge for the Bruins. UCLA was only able to manage 29 yards of offense in the first quarter and coughed the ball up when the Cougars recovered a fumble in the quarter. The turnover set up another score for the Cougars as Beall raced into the end zone from 12 yards out.
"We had all three of them out there, but we didn't particularly run the ball the first six or seven plays, Sumlin said. Those guys are interchangeable and complement each other. They can get out in the slot and do some things. They give us some flexibility from a personnel standpoint and if we get into an up-tempo style it puts some pressure on the defense. That's something we've been working on since the spring."
Houston bounced back and scored a pair of touchdowns before halftime as Micheal Hayes scored on an impressive 34-yard touchdown run that saw him power his way over and through a host of UCLA defenders. Keenum would then later connect on a 23-yard scroing strike to Tyron Carrier helping the Coogs take a 17 point halftime lead. Carried had 10 receptions for 138 yards which left him as the school's career leader in all purpose yards with 5,941.
UCLA came charging back in the second half as they scored two touchdowns to start the second half. Derrick Coleman got things started with his 1-yard touchdown run and then UCLA forced a Cougar fumble deep inside their own territory to halt a U of H scoring drive. The Bruins then marched downfield on a 95-yard scoring drive that Brehaut finished off with a 1-yard run.
Houston finished off their scoring in the fourth quarter when Beall hauled in a Keenum pass to put the Cougars at the UCLA 8-yard line. Carrier would later take a pass from Keenum to the one-yard line where he fumbled but lineman Chris Thompson was alert and made the recovery in the end zone for the touchdown.
The Bruins was able to take the kickoff and move the ball downfield for a field goal attempt but it sailed wide right to end the scoring threat. The Bruins got the ball late in the fourth quarter and Brehaut hit Anthony Barr on an 11-yard touchdown strike to cut the Coogs lead to four.
After blocking the extra point attempt, the Cougars recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
I actually talked to the team today about enjoying this victory but when we come back Monday we have to focus on this week, said Sumlin. That one is important because it is the second opportunity to show who we are. It's a big win. It's big for our fans, our community and our university."
