It wasn't the beat down that the 2009 Rice game was. Nor the resounding thrashing of the 2010 UTEP game but the Houston Cougars extracted a measure of revenge on the UCLA Bruins for an upsetting game in the Rose Bowl last year.
Case Keenum returned to form. So did the Houston defense.
Sam Khan, Jr. described the crowd best with the term raucous in his article about the Cougars win. Fans of all ages were fired up for the game. The student section sold out and was loud and proud. The announce crowd tallied at 31,144. Not sure if it's an official sell out but good to see the home town fans show up. In the past a game like this might get 28,000 or might not.
Cougar of the Game
Case Keenum - He returned as if never injured. With the Coog WR/RBs scorching the UCLA Bruins, Keenum amassed 310 yards passing and added another 30 running. He also tossed one TD. He continues his assault on the NCAA record book.
Troubling Stat of the Game
554 total yard by the Bruins offense. Head coach Kevin Sumlin did say the Bruins offense contained "some of the biggest humans we'll see." I don't know if he was talking about the big uglies upfront but the Bruin TE and WR corp gave the Cougars fits all game long. When not hitting his receivers down field for big gains, UCLA quarterback Richard Brehaut gashed them on the ground.
Not all was lost defensively. Like I started on the Game Day 1 entry, if the defense can make some key stops and give the ball back to the offense, things might turn out different.
First off, despite the yardage, the Coog Mad Dogs recovered one fumble early in the game. That turnover lead to a touchdown.
In the closing minutes of the first half is where the defense made its key stop and pretty much turned the game in the Cougars favor. Brehaut completed a 5 yard TD and the Bruins closed the gap to 17-14 with 2:49 left in the half. In the matter of 3 plays and under a minute the Coogs widen the lead to 24-14. With 1:56 left, the Bruins had time to work. The Cougars give up a first down but then hold on the next three plays forcing UCLA to punt. Keenum and Company take possession with 35 ticks left on the half clock. They needed only three plays, including a UCLA pass interference call, to put the ball in the endzone to Tyron Carrier. Houston closes out the half up 31-14 thanks to one defensive stop.
Kicking Is Key
There was a total of one Bruin fans sitting in my section. His recurring theme during the game was Bruin kicking game is an adventure. Line drive extra point after line drive extra point, I expected a missed PAT. It never happened. Then came the 4th quarter. Despite the yardage total, the defense made a stop and UCLA decided to kick the FG. The kicker, Kip Smith, finally put some height on the kick but he still missed. I knew it was no good as soon as the student section behind the goal posts went wild before the ref's signal. A blocked extra point finally came after the Bruins cut the Cougar lead to four. Despite all else, the game came down to two botched kicks by UCLA...a missed FG plus blocked extra point equals the difference in a 38-34 contest.
The Highlights and Other Videos
Game Highlights
Coach Sumlin's Post Game Press Conference
Keenum's Post Game Comments
Coach Sumlin's Motivational Video
UCLA Head Coach Rick Neuhisel's Post Game Comments
Case Keenum returned to form. So did the Houston defense.
Sam Khan, Jr. described the crowd best with the term raucous in his article about the Cougars win. Fans of all ages were fired up for the game. The student section sold out and was loud and proud. The announce crowd tallied at 31,144. Not sure if it's an official sell out but good to see the home town fans show up. In the past a game like this might get 28,000 or might not.
Cougar of the Game
Case Keenum - He returned as if never injured. With the Coog WR/RBs scorching the UCLA Bruins, Keenum amassed 310 yards passing and added another 30 running. He also tossed one TD. He continues his assault on the NCAA record book.
Troubling Stat of the Game
554 total yard by the Bruins offense. Head coach Kevin Sumlin did say the Bruins offense contained "some of the biggest humans we'll see." I don't know if he was talking about the big uglies upfront but the Bruin TE and WR corp gave the Cougars fits all game long. When not hitting his receivers down field for big gains, UCLA quarterback Richard Brehaut gashed them on the ground.
Not all was lost defensively. Like I started on the Game Day 1 entry, if the defense can make some key stops and give the ball back to the offense, things might turn out different.
First off, despite the yardage, the Coog Mad Dogs recovered one fumble early in the game. That turnover lead to a touchdown.
In the closing minutes of the first half is where the defense made its key stop and pretty much turned the game in the Cougars favor. Brehaut completed a 5 yard TD and the Bruins closed the gap to 17-14 with 2:49 left in the half. In the matter of 3 plays and under a minute the Coogs widen the lead to 24-14. With 1:56 left, the Bruins had time to work. The Cougars give up a first down but then hold on the next three plays forcing UCLA to punt. Keenum and Company take possession with 35 ticks left on the half clock. They needed only three plays, including a UCLA pass interference call, to put the ball in the endzone to Tyron Carrier. Houston closes out the half up 31-14 thanks to one defensive stop.
Kicking Is Key
There was a total of one Bruin fans sitting in my section. His recurring theme during the game was Bruin kicking game is an adventure. Line drive extra point after line drive extra point, I expected a missed PAT. It never happened. Then came the 4th quarter. Despite the yardage total, the defense made a stop and UCLA decided to kick the FG. The kicker, Kip Smith, finally put some height on the kick but he still missed. I knew it was no good as soon as the student section behind the goal posts went wild before the ref's signal. A blocked extra point finally came after the Bruins cut the Cougar lead to four. Despite all else, the game came down to two botched kicks by UCLA...a missed FG plus blocked extra point equals the difference in a 38-34 contest.
The Highlights and Other Videos
Game Highlights
Coach Sumlin's Post Game Press Conference
Keenum's Post Game Comments
Coach Sumlin's Motivational Video
UCLA Head Coach Rick Neuhisel's Post Game Comments
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