The UH/AAC Report
Cougars rally late in win over Tulsa: UCF and USF are halfway to perfection
Alex Baltazar
Oct 10, 2018, 7:00 am
QB D'Eriq King escapes the pocket vs. Tulsa. Photo via Houston Cougar Football/Facebook
Houston 41, Tulsa 26
QB D’ Eriq King and the Cougar offense started the game in frustrating fashion in front of a nationally televised audience on Thursday night. The worst offensive first quarter of the season since Week 1 vs Rice was induced by an introductory TD pass from Tulsa’s QB Seth Boomer, who threw for 227 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT. UH tried to respond, but QB King tried to thread a needle so tight that it caused his receiver to bobble the catch attempt, leaving the Tulsa defense an opportunity for a pick six. Luckily for the Coogs, the turnover only lead to a Golden Hurricane field goal. King then threw a beautiful 32-yard TD pass into the end zone to WR Keith Corbin, who made an equally beautiful jump catch. Offensive Coordinator Kendal Briles tried to instill an up tempo offense early, something he has been successful at implementing all season, but their failure at finding a rhythm left UH with predictable play calling in third and long situations, which forced King to make awfully contested throws.
The entirety of the second quarter was also frustrating to watch. Both teams ended up turning the football over in back to back to back possessions. King again attempted to throw into a tight window resulting in a Tulsa interception. The UH defense began to constrict Tulsa at this point, and showed that they are capable of committing turnovers in moments that give the Cougars' offense and opportunity to come back. On 3rd and 10, with 8:44 left on the clock, King climbed the pocket and rushed for a 19-yard TD, putting the Coogs ahead 17-13 at halftime.
The third quarter was all Tulsa, who shut out the Cougar offense and scored 10 points of their own.
The fourth quarter, however, belonged to Houston. Briles finally found the rhythm he searched for all game and adjusted offensively. King displayed an intangible characteristic, to never panic. King exploded to the right side of the field on a designed QB run and drove into a hole created by his offensive line and receivers that was so big, it led him to an impressive 61-yard touchdown run. The Houston defense then created another turnover via fumble on the Tulsa 9-yard line, where King answered right away with another TD throw. Golden Hurricane QB Boomer then threw a pick in his own 25-yard line, which was turned into yet another King TD. The offense managed to score 17 points in under 2 minutes, leaving the final score 41-26 Houston. Tulsa’s record drops to 1-4, while Houston improves to 4-1.
The defensive performance set by everyone around Ed Oliver is encouraging. LB Austin Robinson had himself a day, with 2 sacks, 3 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. LB Emeke Egbule recovered 2 fumbles. S Deontay Anderson created two turnovers via strip fumble and interception. UH has yet to play No. 23 USF, and a capable Memphis offense. Both teams are very run heavy, and must find a way to go around Ed Oliver and company. Houston showed the capability of complimentary football and will have to continue the trend next week at ECU, who is in last place in the American West division with a 2-3 record.
UH extends a triumphant record of 24-5 at TDECU Stadium in front of 29,823 fans.
The stars
DT Ed Oliver- 13 tackles (tied season high), 1.5 tackles for loss, one QB pressure.
QB D’Eriq King- 19/27, 165 passing yards, 2 INTs, 117 rushing yards, 5 total TDs.
Notable results in the American Athletic Conference
UCF 48, SMU 20
The #13 UCF Golden Knights extend their unrelenting win streak to 18-0 with a win at home vs SMU. The Golden Knights’ high octane offense scored three touchdowns in the first quarter. But a lot of credit is owed to the defense, who created several turnovers throughout the game that gave the offense opportunities to score on short fields. Running backs Adrian Killins and Otis Anderson combined for 26 carries, 187 rushing yards, and 3 TDs. SMU’s Ole Miss transfer, WR James Proche, had 12 receptions, 100 receiving yards, and 2 TDs. SMU is at 2-4, while UCF improves to 5-0 for the season and will face a formidable Memphis Tigers team in Tennessee next week.
USF 58, UMass 42
USF came into this week ranked at No. 23 as they visited UMass. This game began with a 65-yard touchdown thrown by the Bulls’ QB Blake Barnett, who ended up 17 of 24 with 1 TD, 1 INT, and 209 yards. But The real offensive display came from their rushing attack, where Jordan Cronkrite had an outstanding performance with 23 carries, 302 rushing yards, and 3 TDs. UMass had a weapon of their own. Minutemen WR Andy Isabella had 13 receptions, 191 yards, and 1 TD. USF will head into conference play at Tulsa, boasting a perfect 5-0 record.
Memphis 55, UConn 14
The Memphis Tigers won their first conference matchup with a huge offensive display from their RBs. Darrell Henderson and Patrick Taylor Jr. combined for an unstoppable 335 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns. QB Brady White had an efficient showing where he went 16 of 18, threw for 239 yards, and 1 TD. Memphis scored 41 points in the first half, propelling them early into a 4-2 record. But an intimidating UCF team that is on a 18-game win streak awaits.
Cincinnati 37, Tulane 21
The Cincinnati Bearcats started this game slow with a 3-point first quarter, but then adjusted and scored 21 points in the second. Tulane tried to inch their way back into the game, but a pivotal third quarter punt block by Cincinnati was later turned into 7 points, diminishing any possibility for a Green Wave comeback. The Bearcats improve to an impressive 6-0 record, their first since 2012, while Tulane falls to 2-4.
Other AAC Results
Temple 49, ECU 6
Air Force 35, Navy 7
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After finishing up with the Guardians the Astros have a rather important series for early May with the Seattle Mariners heading to town for the weekend. While it’s still too early to be an absolute must-win series for the Astros, losing the series to drop seven or eight games off the division lead would make successfully defending their American League West title that much more unlikely.
Since their own stumble out of the gate to a 6-10 record the Mariners have been racking up series wins, including one this week over the Atlanta Braves. The M’s offense is largely Mmm Mmm Bad, but their pitching is sensational. In 18 games after the 6-10 start, the Mariners gave up five runs in a game once. In the other 17 games they only gave up four runs once. Over the 18 games their starting pitchers gave up 18 earned runs total with a 1.44 earned run average. That’s absurd. Coming into the season Seattle’s starting rotation was clearly better on paper than those of the Astros and Texas Rangers, and it has crystal clearly played out as such into the second month of the schedule.
While it’s natural to focus on and fret over one’s own team's woes when they are plentiful as they have been for the Astros, a reminder that not all grass is greener elsewhere. Alex Bregman has been awful so far. So has young Mariners’ superstar Julio Rodriguez. A meager four extra base hits over his first 30 games were all Julio produced down at the ballyard. That the Mariners are well ahead of the Astros with J-Rod significantly underperforming is good news for Seattle.
Caratini comes through!
So it turns out the Astros are allowed to have a Puerto Rican-born catcher who can hit a little bit. Victor Caratini’s pedigree is not that of a quality offensive player, but he has swung the bat well thus far in his limited playing time and provided the most exciting moment of the Astros’ season with his two-out two-run 10th inning game winning home run Tuesday night. I grant that one could certainly say “Hey! Ronel Blanco finishing off his no-hitter has been the most exciting moment.” I opt for the suddenness of Caratini’s blow turning near defeat into instant victory for a team that has been lousy overall to this point. Frittering away a game the Astros had led 8-3 would have been another blow. Instead, to the Victor belong the spoils.
Pudge Rodriguez is the greatest native Puerto Rican catcher, but he was no longer a good hitter when with the Astros for the majority of the 2009 season. Then there’s Martin Maldonado.
Maldonado’s hitting stats with the Astros look Mike Piazza-ian compared to what Jose Abreu was doing this season. Finally, mercifully for all, Abreu is off the roster as he accepts a stint at rookie-level ball in Florida to see if he can perform baseball-CPR on his swing and career. Until or unless he proves otherwise, Abreu is washed up and at some point the Astros will have to accept it and swallow whatever is left on his contract that runs through next season. For now Abreu makes over $120,000 per game to not be on the roster. At his level of performance, that’s a better deal than paying him that money to be on the roster.
Abreu’s seven hits in 71 at bats for an .099 batting average with a .269 OPS is a humiliating stat line. In 2018 George Springer went to sleep the night of June 13 batting .293 after going hitless in his last four at bats in a 13-5 Astros’ win over Oakland. At the time no one could have ever envisioned that Springer had started a deep, deep funk which would have him endure a nightmarish six for 78 stretch at the plate (.077 batting average). Springer then hit .293 the rest of the season.
Abreu’s exile opened the door for Joey Loperfido to begin his Major League career. Very cool for Loperfido to smack a two-run single in his first game. He also struck out twice. Loperfido will amass whiffs by the bushel, he had 37 strikeouts in 101 at bats at AAA Sugar Land. Still, if he can hit .225 with some walks mixed in (he drew 16 with the Space Cowboys) and deliver some of his obvious power (13 homers in 25 games for the ex-Skeeters) that’s an upgrade over Abreu/Jon Singleton, as well as over Jake Meyers and the awful showing Chas McCormick has posted so far. Frankly, it seems unwise that the Astros only had Loperfido play seven games at first base in the minors this year. If McCormick doesn’t pick it up soon and with Meyers displaying limited offensive upside, the next guy worth a call-up is outfielder Pedro Leon. In January 2021 the Astros gave Leon four million dollars to sign out of Cuba and called him a “rapid mover to the Major Leagues.” Well…
Over his first three minor league seasons Leon flashed tools but definitely underwhelmed. He has been substantially better so far this year. He turns 26 May 28. Just maybe the Astros offense could be the cause of fewer Ls with Loperfido at first and Leon in center field.
Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and I discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via YouTube: stone cold stros - YouTube with the complete audio available via Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.