Tulane football showed some glimpses of progress on offense but it was not enough to outduel Houston's high-powered offense as the Green Wave fell 30-18 to the Cougars on the road.
The Green Wave (3-7, 0-6 American Athletic Conference | West) posted 341 yards of total offense and got touchdowns on the ground for the fifth-straight game and connected on touchdowns through the air for the first time in two games. Tulane outgained Houston 341-287 and kept the Cougars from reaching 300 offensive yards, ending their 35-game streak of compiling 300 or more offensive yards in a game dating back to their inaugural game at TDECU Stadium on Oct. 29, 2014.
"Give credit to Houston. They did what they needed to do to win the game," said head coach Willie Fritz. "I thought we played great on defense. A great job by the defense. We just got to find a way to manufacture points offensively."
Houston (8-2, 5-2 The American | West) jumped out to a two-touchdown lead early after recovering a muffed punt in the end zone within the first two minutes of the game. The Cougars added the second touchdown on their next offensive possession with an 82-yard march down the field in 11 plays capped off by five-yard scamper by quarterback Greg Ward, Jr. to move the score to 14-0.
The Green Wave answered with an eight-play, 57-yard scoring drive of their own, highlighted by sophomore quarterback Glen Cuiellette connecting with freshman wide receiver Darnell Mooney for 21 yards to cut the lead to 14-7. Tulane tacked on another three points on its next offensive possession as junior placekicker booted his ninth field goal of the season from 41 yards out to pull within four at 14-10.
Houston responded with touchdowns in back-to-back possessions, courtesy of the arm of Ward, Jr., to push the lead to 28-10 going into halftime.
That score stood until late in the fourth quarter as Tulane's defense stiffened to limit the Cougars' offense to only 56 yards in the second half. Offensively over the final 30 minutes, the Green Wave showed some life with a fourth-quarter drive that concluded with Cuiellette hooking up with freshman wide receiver D.J. Owens on a 28-yard scoring strike. Cuiellette added to that touchdown with a completion to redshirt senior running back Josh Rounds on a successful two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 28-18.
Houston's final two points came on a personal foul, facemask penalty on Tulane on the Wave's own six-yard line that resulted in a team safety for the Cougars and thwarted any comeback attempt.
The Green Wave are back in action next Saturday, Nov. 19, at the friendly confines of Yulman Stadium for their final home game of the season against Temple. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. on the American Sports Network and ESPN3.
