Sep 29, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars quarterback Greg Ward Jr. (1) attempts a pass during the first quarter against the Connecticut Huskies at TDECU Stadium. Photo Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
HOUSTON — Greg Ward Jr. put on a scintillating performance, and the sixth-ranked Houston Cougars gained a measure of revenge on the Connecticut Huskies with a 42-14 victory Thursday night at TDECU Stadium.
Ward cemented his status as a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate, passing for a career-high 389 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 65 yards and two scores.
He completed 17 consecutive passes bridging the second and third periods and spearheaded an offense that hit 40 points for a fourth consecutive game, the longest such streak for Houston (5-0, 2-0 American Athletic Conference) since 2011.
The Cougars, whose lone blemish last season en route to a conference title and a victory over Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl with a 20-17 setback at UConn, amassed 540 yards. Excluding a late sequence in the first half when they regained possession with 30 seconds left, the Cougars produced six consecutive touchdown drives.
When Houston punter Dane Roy trotted out with 2:37 left in the third quarter, it marked his first appearance since the midpoint of the first quarter.
Houston dominated defensively, too, limiting the Huskies (2-3, 0-2) to 335 yards, including just 62 on the ground. The Cougars entered play leading the nation in rushing defense while ranked fourth in scoring defense and fifth in total defense.
Aside from a 62-yard scoring pass from Bryant Shirreffs to Noel Thomas with 30 seconds left in the first half, the Huskies found the Cougars impossible to penetrate until the fourth quarter after the Cougars’ defensive intensity clearly waned. UConn totaled 137 yards in the final period with the outcome already well in hand.
Ward completed 32 of 38 passes without throwing an interception. Houston receiver Linell Bonner caught 12 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown, while Steven Dunbar finished with five receptions for 97 yards and a score.
Huskies receiver Noel Thomas caught six passes for 135 yards and the one touchdown, and Hergy Mayala added six grabs for 92 yards. Shirreffs wound up 13 of 29 for 239 yards and one score.
Having sputtered to the tune of four first downs in the first quarter, the Cougars came alive in the second quarter. Ward capped an 80-yard drive that began with 2:29 left in the first period with a dazzling 30-yard scoring run, darting up the middle of the defense before cutting toward the Houston sideline and finding the end zone.
That play ignited a blistering stretch of offense, one that featured four consecutive scoring drives all ending in touchdowns for Houston. The Cougars covered 61, 60 and 86 yards on their touchdown marches in the second quarter, building a 28-0 lead when Ward hit Dunbar on a 15-yard pass with 1:37 left in the first half.
NOTES: The Cougars were missing three starters: RB Duke Catalon (head), LB Tyus Bowser (head) and LB Matthew Adams (coach’s decision). … With his 62-yard touchdown reception, Huskies WR Noel Thomas moved into ninth place in program history with 127 receptions, surpassing Kashif Moore (126 from 2008-11). On his previous catch, a 17-yard grab, Thomas passed Jason Williams (1,469 yards from 2002-05) for 15th in receiving yards. … Cougars QB Greg Ward Jr. has 10 games with a rushing and passing touchdown since 2015, the second-most in FBS in that span.
