Tulane vs. Houston: First Quarter

That ends the first quarter. The Green Wave offense has been aweful so far, and the Cougars made a couple big plays on third down that have extended drives. This is exactly what the Green Wave didn't want happen. Without SKehan's INT in the end zone, this game would be 17-0.


0:00 A big 3rd and 8 for the Cougars, and Houston gets a first down. But WR LJ Castile is charged with a chop block. So on third and long (with 0:00 on the clock), Keenum finds a wide open Avery for 18 yards.

1:00: On third down, the Cougars run the ball right up the middle for six yards and a first down. A really gutsy call by Houston coach Art Briles.

3:01: On the punt, Goosby is hit with a personal foul. I didn't really see it, but it doesn't seem like there's much argument about the call. There seems to be some bad blood between the two teams.

3:12: Elliot found TE Gabe Ratcliff over the middle, but Ratcliff couldn't hold onto the ball. Tulane has to punt.

3:50: Another reverse gone bad. Houston is really doing a good job on defense of staying at home and not falling for any trick plays.

4:59: Forte with a few nice gains of 6 and 15 yards to start the drive. You can tell the Cougars really want to stop the run, but Toledo isn't budging and insists on running.

The student section has filled up quite nicely -- late-arriving crowd. But the INT really sucked the life out of the crowd. Tulane will take over at its own 32.

5:50: Touchdown Cougars -- Aldridge rushes to the outside and gets into the endzone with his butt. 10-0 Houston

5:58: On third down, Elliot makes a terrible decision by throwing the ball over the middle in traffic. The Cougars MLB Cody Lubojasky returns it to the Green Wave 4 yard line. That's Lubojasky's first career INT.

7:24: After a nice run to the left side by Forte, Toledo tries a little trickery on first down, but the Cougars had it covered well. It looked like Robutum wanted to throw the ball on the reverse.

8:30: Jeremy Williams out-jumps his man in single coverage for a big play up to around the 40 yard line. The momentum seems to have shifted.

9:01: Interception by Tulane in the end zone-- HUGE PLAY. Skehan makes a big play. Keenum was under pressure that time and may a horrible throw across his body over the middle (in traffic as well).

9:47: Three Houston plays, three first downs. Keenum has all day to throw and the Cougars are running the spread to perfection. Aldridge hasn't been a factor quite yet, but he will be as Houston opens up the run by passing.

10:32: Quick three-and-out by the Tulane offense. The defense will have to run back out on the field.

After the kickoff return (taken to the 22), there was a little skirmish after the play. No penalties.


33-yard FG good by Lawrence. 3-0 Houston. That was a quick drive -- 7 plays, 53 yards in less than 3 minutes.

12:05: Big third-down stop -- exactly what the doctor ordered for this Green WAve defense. Keenum had all day to throw, but the coverage was outstanding.


13:00: Another completion from Keenum to Avery, but one of the COugar linemen decided to play wide receiver and the Cougars get penalized. Huge penalty that could end the drive.

13:51: Another completed pass -- this time over the middle from Keenum to Holland. The Cougars are getting anything they want right now.

14:44: A screen pass by QB Case Keenum to WR Donnie Avery gets the Cougars about 20 yards, then a personal foul on Tulane SS Devon Holland. Ref says he pushed the guy late -- looked really iffy as both guys were running hard and it looked like Avery slowed up a little and Holland simply ran into him.

15:00: Kickoff caught around the five yard line, and returned to the 30-yard line.