Tulane University
3-7 , 0-6
Houston*
8-2 , 5-2
Football Drops Road Contest at Houston, 30-18
Nov 12, 2016 | Football
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HOUSTON – Tulane football showed glimpses of progress on offense but it was not enough to outduel Houston's high-powered offense, as the Green Wave fell 30-18 to the Cougars on Saturday evening at TDECU Stadium.
The Green Wave (3-7, 0-6 American Athletic Conference | West) posted 341 yards of total offense, recorded touchdowns on the ground for the fifth-straight game, and connected on touchdowns through the air for the first time in two games. Tulane outgained Houston 341-287 and kept the Cougars from reaching 300 offensive yards, ending its 35-game streak of compiling 300 or more offensive yards in a game dating back to their inaugural game at TDECU Stadium on Oct. 29, 2014.
"Give credit to Houston. They did what they needed to do to win the game," head coach Willie Fritz said. "I thought we played great on defense. A great job by the defense. We just got to find a way to manufacture points offensively."
Houston (8-2, 5-2 The American | West) jumped out to a two-touchdown lead early after recovering a muffed punt in the end zone within the first two minutes of the game. The Cougars added the second touchdown on their next offensive possession with an 82-yard march down the field in 11 plays capped off by five-yard scamper by quarterback Greg Ward, Jr. to move the score to 14-0.
The Green Wave answered with an eight-play, 57-yard scoring drive of their own, highlighted by sophomore quarterback Glen Cuiellette connecting with freshman wide receiver Darnell Mooney for 21 yards to cut the lead to 14-7. Tulane tacked on another three points on its next offensive possession as junior placekicker Andrew DiRocco booted his ninth field goal of the season from 41 yards out to pull within four at 14-10.
Houston responded with touchdowns in back-to-back possessions, courtesy of the arm of Ward, Jr., to push the lead to 28-10 going into halftime.
That score stood until late in the fourth quarter as Tulane's defense stiffened to limit the Cougars' offense to only 56 yards in the second half. Offensively over the final 30 minutes, the Green Wave showed some life with a fourth-quarter drive that concluded with Cuiellette hooking up with freshman wide receiver D.J. Owens on a 28-yard scoring strike. Cuiellette added to that touchdown with a completion to redshirt senior running back Josh Rounds on a successful two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 28-18.
Houston's final two points came on a personal foul, facemask penalty on Tulane at the Wave's own six-yard line that resulted in a team safety for the Cougars and thwarted the comeback attempt.
Tulane back in action next Saturday, Nov. 19, at the friendly confines of Yulman Stadium for the final home game of the season against Temple. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. on the American Sports Network and ESPN3.
Green Wave Notes
• Tulane and Houston met for the 21st time with the Cougars now leading the series 16-5. Tulane is 3-8 in games in this series played in Houston.
• The Green Wave have rushed for 100 yards or more in all 10 games this season.
• Tulane's defense recorded 13 tackles for a loss for the first time since Nov. 30, 2013, against Rice.
• Redshirt sophomore QB Glen Cuiellette threw for his ninth and 10th touchdown passes of the season and on a 21-yard pass to freshman WR Darnell Mooney late in the first quarter and a 28-yard strike to freshman WR D.J. Owens in the fourth quarter.
• Cuiellette set a single-game career high with 241 passing yards. The performance was his third career multi-touchdown passing game.
• The 21-yard catch for Mooney was his second career touchdown reception. He also led the team in receptions and yards, while setting single-game career highs in both categories. Mooney finished the game with seven catches for 63 yards.
• The 28-yard touchdown reception by Owens was his first career reception and touchdown.
• On the kickoff by Tulane following the Mooney touchdown, sophomore P Zachary Block recovered his own onside kick. The play was the first executed onside kick by Tulane since Nov. 3, 2007 vs. Tulsa.
• Redshirt junior WR Tristan Cooper played in his first game of the season and recorded his first career reception on a three-yard reception from Cuiellette early in the second quarter. Cooper spent his first two seasons as a defensive back before transitioning to wide receiver this season.
• Redshirt sophomore WR Terren Encalade has a reception in seven consecutive games. He totaled five catches for 41 yards.
• Senior DT Tanzel Smart recorded both an unassisted and assisted sack, bringing his tally to 4.5 sacks this season and 8.5 career sacks.
• Later in the second quarter, redshirt sophomore DT Eldrick Washington recorded his second sack of the season and fourth of his career.
• At the end of the first half, redshirt sophomore CB Donnie Lewis, Jr. grabbed his second interception of the season and of his career. In the third quarter, Lewis, Jr. assisted Smart on a sack to record the first sack of his career.
• On Tulane's first drive of the second half, redshirt sophomore TE Kendall Ardoin's 21-yard reception on third down was the longest catch of his career.
• Redshirt sophomore LB Zachery Harris totaled 10 tackle, leading the team and setting a single-game career high in the process.
• Redshirt junior FS Jarrod Franklin tallied his first sack of the season and third of his career on the final play of the third quarter.
• Redshirt senior WR Larry Dace III caught four passes for 55 yards, tying his career high in receptions and setting his single-game career high in receiving yards.
• Twelve players extended their double-digit starting streaks: OG Chris Taylor (37), LB Nico Marley (35), DT Tanzel Smart (34), CB Parry Nickerson (31), FS Jarrod Franklin (22), OT Todd Jacquet (22), DE Ade Aruna (16), RB Dontrell Hilliard (12), OG Leeward Brown (10), WR Terren Encalade (10), C John Leglue (10), SS Roderic Teamer (10).
• Senior OG Chris Taylor carried out the No. 18 Flag in honor of former Green Wave player Devon Walker.
• Game captains were seniors Smart, LB Nico Marley and TE Marshall Wadleigh.
• Attendance was 36,552.
Team Stats
TLN 0, HOU 7
HOU - WINCHESTER, J. 0 yd fumble recovery (CUMMINGS, Ty kick)
TLN 0, HOU 14
HOU - WARD Jr., Greg 5 yd run (CUMMINGS, Ty kick), 11 plays, 82 yards, TOP 3:40
TLN 7, HOU 14
TLN - MOONEY, Darnell 21 yd pass from CUIELLETTE, G. (DiROCCO, Andrew kick) 8 plays, 57 yards, TOP 3:37
TLN 10, HOU 14
TLN - DiROCCO, Andrew 41 yd field goal 5 plays, 26 yards, TOP 1:59
TLN 10, HOU 21
HOU - DUNBAR, Steven 16 yd pass from WARD Jr., Greg (CUMMINGS, Ty kick) 6 plays, 53 yards, TOP 2:30
TLN 10, HOU 28
HOU - ALLEN, Chance 6 yd pass from WARD Jr., Greg (CUMMINGS, Ty kick) 6 plays, 60 yards, TOP 2:26
TLN 18, HOU 28
TLN - OWENS, D.J. 28 yd pass from CUIELLETTE, G. (ROUNDS, Josh pass) 9 plays, 89 yards, TOP 2:17
TLN 18, HOU 30
HOU - Team -6 yd safety
