No match for No. 6 UH
The University of Houston overwhelms Texas State 64-3.
SAN MARCOS — On any given week, D’Eriq King moves between the different meeting rooms at the Houston AthleticAlumni Center, a schedule that can admittedly become hectic for the doeverything true freshman.
But he felt comfortable just about everywhere Saturday night.
Playing in only his fourth collegiate game, King became the first player in the 71-year history of the UHfootball program to accomplish a rare trifecta: he caught a touchdown pass, threw for a TD pass and returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the sixthranked Cougars’ 64-3 blowout of the Texas State Bobcats.
UH enjoyed its mostlopsided win in a quarter of a century in what amounted to a tuneup for another quick turnaround with a Thursday night conference game against Connecticut.
The 61-point margin was the largest for UH since beating Louisiana Tech 73-3 on Aug. 31, 1991. Defense stands out
“Our defense shows up every week,” UH coach Tom Herman said. “It’s become a given around here.”
Quarterback Greg Ward Jr., who has been nursing a right shoulder injury, was 20-of-26 for 289 yards and accounted for three touchdowns before taking a seat on the Cougars’ second drive of the third quarter.
By then, King and Co. had done plenty of damage with 429 yards of total offense and a 43-3 lead at halftime.
“He had a look in pregame,” Herman said. “He looked like the old Greg.”
King, a highly touted signee from powerhouse Manvel, worked as the Cougars’ third-string quarterback in preseason camp and was a likely candidate to redshirt. In the span of a few days, UH lost its top two candidates for the inside slot receiver position — Rashaad Samples (concussion) and Marquez Stevenson (broken collarbone) — to injuries.
Herman approached King about making a temporary move to receiver.
“For me it was a pretty easy (decision),” King said. “I really like what I’m doing now.”
King took a bubble screen and raced 48 yards up the sideline for a touchdown in the first quarter, threw a 15-yard pass to Steven Dunbar on an endaround, and took the kickoff 99 yards to begin the second half. He finished with 234 all-purpose yards.
“We didn’t really know what we were going to do at that position,” Herman said. “As electric as he is — he’s a tremendous athlete — he’s a better kid and person. He goes out and works his tail off, listens, doesn’t say anything and goes to work every day and it shows on Saturdays.”
Ward’s backup, Kyle Postma, accounted for touchdown runs of 21 and 1 yard in the second half as the Cougars rolled to a season-high 563 yards.
Maybe even more im- pressive for a team that ran 82 plays and substituted at will in the second half, UH did not commit a penalty.
The UH defense came close to posting its second shutout of the season, surrendering only a 32-yard field goal by James Sherman in the second quarter.
Texas State managed only 142 yards of total offense, including 33 on the ground.
“They’re a great defense,” Texas State quarterback Tyler Jones said of Houston. “They have good athletes over there. There’s a reason they’re ranked No. 6 in the nation right now.”
The offense in the red zone was a source of con- cern early in the season, but UH went 6-for-6 with five touchdowns inside the area (opponent’s 20-yard line).
Seven UH players scored touchdowns.
UH converted three fourth-down attempts, including twice on the opening drive to set up Ward’s 10-yard run. Bobcats’ miscues
The Cougars were also aided by a pair of pass interference calls — both deep in Texas State territory — on consecutive possessions that led to Dunbar’s touchdown and a 13-yard touchdown run by Duke Catalon, who had a game-high 70 rushing yards.