Cougars hoping for a faster start vs. Bulls

Less than four minutes into the season opener, Mulbah Car found the end zone on a 5-yard run.

Four games later, it remains the only first-quarter offensive touchdown scored by the University of Houston this season.

Slow starts continue to puzzle the Cougars heading into Saturday’s 2: 30 p.m. game against South Florida at TDECU Stadium.

“I’ll keep talking about starting fast,” coach Dana Holgorsen said. “I’ll keep talking about settling in. I’ll keep talking about preparation and having a good week of practice.”

A lack of early rhythm has caused UH to trail after the first quarter in every game this season. Through five games, the Cougars have scored 13 points in the opening quarter — the only other touchdown was on a fumble return by linebacker Grant Stuard.

The lack of offense has put the Cougars in some early holes. They trailed Tulane 24-7 before mounting a comeback to win 4931. They fell behind 14-3 to then-No. 14 BYU, briefly took the lead and eventually ran out of gas in a 43-26 loss.

Against two high-powered offenses the last two games against Central Florida and Cincinnati, the Cougars offense was scoreless in the first quarter, putting additional strain on an injury-

ravaged defensive unit.

Just how bad has the first 15 minutes of games been this season? Of 18 drives, the Cougars have punted 10 times, committed four turnovers and produced three field goals and a touchdown. Only once has UH scored on its opening drive — a 27-yard field goal by Dalton Witherspoon against BYU.

The Cougars are averaging 81.8 yards total offense in the first quarter. The numbers have trended downward even more the past twoweeks with 77 and 49 yards in blowout losses to Central Florida and then-No. 6 Cincin-

nati. Not surprising, UH’s offense was scoreless in the first quarter in both games.

“I think it’s a quick fix,” quarterback Clayton Tune. “It’s just sustaining drives and starting fast. That’s something we haven’t done a great job of the last two games.”

Tune said the first-quarter offensive issues could be aided by a higher third-down conversion rate (22 percent) and “not going backwards” with penalties, and negative-yardage plays.

“Stay on schedule, stay ahead of the chains, sustain drives and finish with touchdowns,” Tune said.

Adding to the Cougars’ woes has been musical chairs along the offensive line because of injuries

and inconsistency, the inability to establish the run game and the loss of star wide receiver Marquez Stevenson to an ankle injury. Holgorsen said Stevenson is “not quite there yet” and doubtful for Saturday’s game.

Kyle Porter has been forced to carry the load in the backfield — he has at least one rushing touchdown in each of the last three games — with Car slowed by an ankle injury.

For the season, UH is averaging 125.8 rushing yards per game, last in the American Athletic Conference and on pace for the program’s lowest total since 2001. This would be a good week for Car’s return; he has combined for 167 rushing yards and two touchdowns in two career games against USF.

“We’re still trying to go runfirst, and our opponents know that,” Holgorsen said. “We’re kind of searching right now. We just don’t have the confidence to run the ball like we have in years past.”

With several other key offensive players out — receivers Jeremy Singleton and Tre’Von Bradley also have been slowed by injuries— Holgorsen said it’s important for others like Nathaniel Dell, Bryson Smith and Keith Corbin to step up. Holgorsen said some true freshmen could see action during the final four weeks, including Dylan Robinson, a wide receiver from Atascocita.

“It sets you back, but you have to line people up and go play,”

Holgorsen said. “Those replacements have to play at a high level in order for you to win.”

UH (2-3 overall, 2-2 AAC) has lost two straight games by a combined 51 points. USF (1-6, 0-5) has dropped six straight games since beating the Citadel in the season opener. In two recent losses, the Bulls narrowly lost to Memphis 34-33 and Temple 39-37.

“(USF) is dealing with a lot of the things that we are,” Holgorsen said. “It’s nice to line up against somebody … it seems like everybody we play each and every week is playing the best football they have all year to this date.”