C-USA: Cougars defense stops Green Wave's last shot
By Associated Press
Published October 12, 2003
NEW ORLEANS - Six games into the season, freshman quarterback Kevin Kolb and the restyled Houston offense are showing they can match up with the best attacks in Conference USA.
Kolb threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns, and the Cougars defense held on in the final seconds as Houston defeated Tulane 45-42 on Saturday.
The Cougars needed big offensive numbers against the Green Wave. Tulane scored 35 in the second half, and had the ball for a potential winning drive with 58 seconds left and no timeouts.
J.P. Losman hit Tristan Smith to convert on fourth and 5, then hit Nick Narcisse to put Tulane in Houston territory. But Narcisse could not get out of bounds to stop the clock. With about 14 seconds left, Losman was sacked by Joe Clay and time ran out.
"We knew Tulane was capable of doing what they did," said first-year Houston coach Art Briles, who has instituted a new, more pass-oriented offense. "With a team like them, 21 points is never a big lead."
LOUISVILLE 34, ARMY 10: Eric Shelton ran for three touchdowns, and Stefan LeFors threw for a career-best 406 yards for the host Cardinals. LeFors completed 19-of-28, including four of 35 or more. Louisville led Army 17-10 at halftime, but pulled away with a 17-point third quarter. Shelton had 3- and 4-yard touchdowns during the quarter. The Cardinals had 619 total yards, fourth-highest in school history.
UAB 31, CINCINNATI 14: Roddy White caught touchdown passes of 95 and 56 yards for the host Blazers. Darrell Hackney completed 12-of-21 for 277 and two scores as UAB won its second straight. Quarterback Gino Guidugli, playing with a sore knee, completed 21-of-43 for 219 yards to lead the Bearcats. Most of the offense came early as UAB jumped to a 28-14 halftime lead. In getting off to a 1-3 start UAB lost nine fumbles. But the Blazers played their second game in a row without losing a fumble.
UNC 28, E. CAROLINA 17: Darian Durant threw two touchdowns and Chad Scott ran for a score as the visiting Tar Heels rallied in a battle of winless teams. North Carolina got a solid defensive effort in the second half to overcome a three-point halftime deficit and avoid its first 0-6 start in 15 seasons. Desmond Robinson had two touchdown passes for the Pirates, off to their worst start since 1986.
