UH rallies late to down Louisville for big road win
By Joseph Duarte
Houston's Greg Ward Jr. (1) attempts a pass away from the pursuit of Louisville's Keith Kelsey (55) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Louisville, Ky. Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Two weeks, two games, and the University of Houston has its first signature win under coach Tom Herman.
Greg Ward Jr. hooked up with Demarcus Ayers on a 15-yard touchdown with 3:09 remaining as UH survived a back-and-forth second half for a 34-31 victory over Louisville on Saturday afternoon before a crowd of 50,019 at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.
The Cougars did not seal the victory – their first non-conference road win over a school from a Power 5 conference in six years – until Steven Taylor partially blocked kicker John Wallace’s 53-yard field goal with 54 seconds left.
“We trained nine months for this moment,” said Herman, who was hired last December and did not officially begin until Jan. 13 after Ohio State won the national championship. “None of us in the locker room are surprised.”
Herman told his players at the start of the week that Saturday’s game against Louisville, in its second season in the ACC, was about ‘national relevance’ and that the college football world would be watching.
Message received. The Cougars delivered an early statement, overcoming repeated blown chances to put the game out of reach and backup quarterback Kyle Bolin rallying the Cardinals for a 31-27 lead with six minutes left.
“We knew we had a big test and a chance to get on the national radar,” Ayers said.
Ward set up the final touchdown with a 36-yard run deep into Louisville territory. Six plays later, Ward noticed something in the coverage, made a check at the line of scrimmage and found Ayers near the sideline for his second touchdown pass of the fourth quarter.
After being tied at 17, the two teams combined for 31 points in the fourth quarter.
UH missed two field goals, converted only three points off four Louisville turnovers and, before the game-winning drive, failed to find the end zone despite twice being inside the 9-yard line.
“It was a very up-and-down game,” Herman said. “If there is a definition of a team win, that was it. We always found a way to pick each other up.”
With the UH offense sputtering, Brandon Wilson provided a spark when he returned a kickoff for a touchdown late in the third quarter to tie the game at 17. Wilson caught the ball a couple yards deep in the end zone, bounced off two defenders at the 10-yard line and went untouched for the longest kickoff return for touchdown since Tyron Carrier went 100 yards against Rice in 2011.
“Really bad decision,” Herman said. “That’s one of those as a coach you go, ‘No, no, no, no, no, no, no … yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes … go, go, go, go, go!’”
Ward completed 23-of-33 passes for 236 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 98 yards. Kenneth Farrow had 27 carries for 109 yards.
Kyle Bullard had a 21-yard field goal and Linell Bonner added a 22-yard touchdown catch during the Cougars' 17-point fourth quarter.
Louisville made a change in quarterback with 9:24 left, going from true freshman dual-threat Lamar Jackson to Bolin, a redshirt sophomore dropback passer. Jackson, making his first career start, was 17-of-27 for 168 yards and had passes intercepted by UH safeties Adrian McDonald and Trevon Stewart. Bolin led the Cardinals on a pair of touchdown drives.
McDonald said the Cougars ‘could read’ what Jackson was going to do.
“We wanted to put some pressure on (Jackson) and force him into making quick decisions,” Herman added. “I think we ramped it up a little bit knowing a freshman quarterback was back there. He hurt us a bunch. He made us nervous at times.”
On its final possession, Louisville threatened and drove to the UH 35. The Cardinals were close to field-goal range until left tackle Geron Christian was called for a holding penalty that pushed them back to the UH 44.
On third-and-19, Bolin completed an 8-yard pass to set up the 53-yard field goal attempt by Wallace with the wind at his back.
“It’s a tough call,” Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said. “Do you go for it on fourth and 11 or do you kick the field goal? I had confidence he would make it.”
He didn’t, and UH left with its first road non-conference win over a Power 5 school since beating Oklahoma State and Mississippi State in 2009.
In the locker room, the Cougars sprayed chocolate milk in a loud celebration.
Now the Cougars have a bye week and two weeks to prepare for the next game, at home Sept. 26 against Texas State.
Herman declined to discuss what the impact of the win would mean for the Cougars nationally.
“To talk about national relevance, that’s for the nation to decide,” he said, “not me.”
By Joseph Duarte
Houston's Greg Ward Jr. (1) attempts a pass away from the pursuit of Louisville's Keith Kelsey (55) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Louisville, Ky. Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Two weeks, two games, and the University of Houston has its first signature win under coach Tom Herman.
Greg Ward Jr. hooked up with Demarcus Ayers on a 15-yard touchdown with 3:09 remaining as UH survived a back-and-forth second half for a 34-31 victory over Louisville on Saturday afternoon before a crowd of 50,019 at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.
The Cougars did not seal the victory – their first non-conference road win over a school from a Power 5 conference in six years – until Steven Taylor partially blocked kicker John Wallace’s 53-yard field goal with 54 seconds left.
“We trained nine months for this moment,” said Herman, who was hired last December and did not officially begin until Jan. 13 after Ohio State won the national championship. “None of us in the locker room are surprised.”
Herman told his players at the start of the week that Saturday’s game against Louisville, in its second season in the ACC, was about ‘national relevance’ and that the college football world would be watching.
Message received. The Cougars delivered an early statement, overcoming repeated blown chances to put the game out of reach and backup quarterback Kyle Bolin rallying the Cardinals for a 31-27 lead with six minutes left.
“We knew we had a big test and a chance to get on the national radar,” Ayers said.
Ward set up the final touchdown with a 36-yard run deep into Louisville territory. Six plays later, Ward noticed something in the coverage, made a check at the line of scrimmage and found Ayers near the sideline for his second touchdown pass of the fourth quarter.
After being tied at 17, the two teams combined for 31 points in the fourth quarter.
UH missed two field goals, converted only three points off four Louisville turnovers and, before the game-winning drive, failed to find the end zone despite twice being inside the 9-yard line.
“It was a very up-and-down game,” Herman said. “If there is a definition of a team win, that was it. We always found a way to pick each other up.”
With the UH offense sputtering, Brandon Wilson provided a spark when he returned a kickoff for a touchdown late in the third quarter to tie the game at 17. Wilson caught the ball a couple yards deep in the end zone, bounced off two defenders at the 10-yard line and went untouched for the longest kickoff return for touchdown since Tyron Carrier went 100 yards against Rice in 2011.
“Really bad decision,” Herman said. “That’s one of those as a coach you go, ‘No, no, no, no, no, no, no … yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes … go, go, go, go, go!’”
Ward completed 23-of-33 passes for 236 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 98 yards. Kenneth Farrow had 27 carries for 109 yards.
Kyle Bullard had a 21-yard field goal and Linell Bonner added a 22-yard touchdown catch during the Cougars' 17-point fourth quarter.
Louisville made a change in quarterback with 9:24 left, going from true freshman dual-threat Lamar Jackson to Bolin, a redshirt sophomore dropback passer. Jackson, making his first career start, was 17-of-27 for 168 yards and had passes intercepted by UH safeties Adrian McDonald and Trevon Stewart. Bolin led the Cardinals on a pair of touchdown drives.
McDonald said the Cougars ‘could read’ what Jackson was going to do.
“We wanted to put some pressure on (Jackson) and force him into making quick decisions,” Herman added. “I think we ramped it up a little bit knowing a freshman quarterback was back there. He hurt us a bunch. He made us nervous at times.”
On its final possession, Louisville threatened and drove to the UH 35. The Cardinals were close to field-goal range until left tackle Geron Christian was called for a holding penalty that pushed them back to the UH 44.
On third-and-19, Bolin completed an 8-yard pass to set up the 53-yard field goal attempt by Wallace with the wind at his back.
“It’s a tough call,” Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said. “Do you go for it on fourth and 11 or do you kick the field goal? I had confidence he would make it.”
He didn’t, and UH left with its first road non-conference win over a Power 5 school since beating Oklahoma State and Mississippi State in 2009.
In the locker room, the Cougars sprayed chocolate milk in a loud celebration.
Now the Cougars have a bye week and two weeks to prepare for the next game, at home Sept. 26 against Texas State.
Herman declined to discuss what the impact of the win would mean for the Cougars nationally.
“To talk about national relevance, that’s for the nation to decide,” he said, “not me.”
