Re: NCAA 2004: Prestige to Challenge
Houston (3-2) at Memphis (3-2)
Memphis definitely had something going on the opening drive, but they stalled at midfield and punted the ball away. Houston drove down to the 11 but Cooper fumbled and then the offensive lineman recovered but fumbled and finally Memphis decided they would hold on to it if the Cougars didn't want to. After the tight end Erik Johnson dropped two consecutive wide open passes, Houston would punt on their next possession. Memphis destroyed Houston's secondary on their way to an easy six. 7-0 Memphis took the lead and looked inclined to keep it. In their next drive, Memphis continued the magic with a 3rd & 18 conversion with a HB screen and then a long pass with 5 Houston defenders around and surprisingly... not one tried to make a play on the ball! The coach stared in disbelief. Their drive stalled just past midfield, however. Cory Cooper came out firing... a 62 yard pass to WR AJ Tucker who was able to get it all the way to the Memphis 24. Eventually Cory Cooper would hit TE Terrence Carter for an 8 yard score and Houston tied the game 7-7. That would be the halftime score. Houston had no running game from Jamie Mitchell, which forced them into more throwing situations than they would've liked to be in. Houston started the second half with a long drive, but they ran out of juice at the 17 and settled for a field goal. The score was now 10-7. Memphis answered right back with an 87 yard touchdown pass. It was incredible as the receiver was absolutely sandwiched in-between two defenders, but both defenders fell down leaving him standing somehow and then he was being run down and avoided a shoestring tackle with a perfectly-timed jump. Early in the 4th quarter, Houston capped another long drive with yet another touchdown pass from Cory Cooper to the tight end, this time for eleven yards. 17-14, Houston had retaken the lead. With 3 minutes left, CB Beard dismantled Memphis' hopes with an interception. Houston would miss a field goal attempt giving Memphis the ball back late in the game. On the drive, Olson came away with a pick to virtually end the game.
FINAL: Houston escapes 17-14
Mentionable Performances
QB Cory Cooper - 127.0, 27/46, 319 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
TE Terrence Carter - 11 rec, 94 yards, 2 TD
WR David Gaines - 8 rec, 68 yards, 0 TD
LB Jason Mullins - 4 tackles, 4 sacks
Memphis Mentionables
QB Nick Erwin - 115.9, 15/37, 301 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
WR Bubba Roth - 7 rec, 140 yards, 0 TD
WR Mike Witherspoon - 4 rec, 131 yards, 2 TD
Houston Cougars: 4-2 - Looking good after a bad start to the season...
Next Game: at TCU (7-1)
Houston (3-2) at Memphis (3-2)
Memphis definitely had something going on the opening drive, but they stalled at midfield and punted the ball away. Houston drove down to the 11 but Cooper fumbled and then the offensive lineman recovered but fumbled and finally Memphis decided they would hold on to it if the Cougars didn't want to. After the tight end Erik Johnson dropped two consecutive wide open passes, Houston would punt on their next possession. Memphis destroyed Houston's secondary on their way to an easy six. 7-0 Memphis took the lead and looked inclined to keep it. In their next drive, Memphis continued the magic with a 3rd & 18 conversion with a HB screen and then a long pass with 5 Houston defenders around and surprisingly... not one tried to make a play on the ball! The coach stared in disbelief. Their drive stalled just past midfield, however. Cory Cooper came out firing... a 62 yard pass to WR AJ Tucker who was able to get it all the way to the Memphis 24. Eventually Cory Cooper would hit TE Terrence Carter for an 8 yard score and Houston tied the game 7-7. That would be the halftime score. Houston had no running game from Jamie Mitchell, which forced them into more throwing situations than they would've liked to be in. Houston started the second half with a long drive, but they ran out of juice at the 17 and settled for a field goal. The score was now 10-7. Memphis answered right back with an 87 yard touchdown pass. It was incredible as the receiver was absolutely sandwiched in-between two defenders, but both defenders fell down leaving him standing somehow and then he was being run down and avoided a shoestring tackle with a perfectly-timed jump. Early in the 4th quarter, Houston capped another long drive with yet another touchdown pass from Cory Cooper to the tight end, this time for eleven yards. 17-14, Houston had retaken the lead. With 3 minutes left, CB Beard dismantled Memphis' hopes with an interception. Houston would miss a field goal attempt giving Memphis the ball back late in the game. On the drive, Olson came away with a pick to virtually end the game.
FINAL: Houston escapes 17-14
Mentionable Performances
QB Cory Cooper - 127.0, 27/46, 319 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
TE Terrence Carter - 11 rec, 94 yards, 2 TD
WR David Gaines - 8 rec, 68 yards, 0 TD
LB Jason Mullins - 4 tackles, 4 sacks
Memphis Mentionables
QB Nick Erwin - 115.9, 15/37, 301 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
WR Bubba Roth - 7 rec, 140 yards, 0 TD
WR Mike Witherspoon - 4 rec, 131 yards, 2 TD
Houston Cougars: 4-2 - Looking good after a bad start to the season...
Next Game: at TCU (7-1)
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