BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Houston Cougars have found a cure for their turnover woes – for now.
Houston, which comitted 20 turnovers through its first six games, protected the ball fairly well against Conference USA rival Alabama-Birmingham on Saturday and had only one turnover in a 49-10 win before a crowd of 11,588 at Legion Field.
On top of that, the Cougars’ defense recorded four interceptions, which were converted into three touchdowns.
Redshirt freshman Case Keenum and sophomore Blake Joseph rotated at quarterback and both played well. Keenum started the game and finished 11-of-16 for 100 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
Joseph came to spell Keenum in the first quarter a few times, but played most of the second quarter. Joseph finished the game 10-of-17 for yards 105 yards and a touchdown.
Houston (4-3, 3-1 C-USA) scorched the Blazers for 35 points in the first half, scoring almost at will.
However, the Cougars did not get off to a great start.
UAB (2-5, 1-2) got great field position on its first drive after running back Rashaud Slaughter returned a punt 33 yards to the Cougar 24. The Blazers failed to pick up a first down on three plays, and settled for a 41-yard field goal from kicker Swayze Waters to take an early 3-0 lead.
The Cougars went three-and-out on their next possession and had to punt the ball away again.
The first play of the next drive for UAB went 68 yards when quarterback Sam Hunt (12-of-34, 198 yards, 1 TD, 4 interceptions) found wide receiver Frantrell Forrest.
But the Cougars’ defense soon awoke.
Senior safety Rocky Schwartz picked up his first of two interceptions three plays later. That led to Houston’s first points when Keenum hooked up with junior tight end Mark Hafner for a 10-yard touchdown pass.
On the ensuing drive, junior safety Kenneth Fontenette picked off Hunt for the Cougars’ second interception of the first quarter. Houston capitalized on the Blazers’ mistake when senior running back Anthony Alridge scored on an 8-yard touchdown run as time expired in the first quarter.
Alridge’s day was done with five minutes left in the third quarter. He finished the game with 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries.
The Cougars would pick off Hunt two more times in the first half en route to taking a 35-10 halftime lead.
And after the Cougars came out of the locker room, they went right back to work.
The Cougars’ defense forced a UAB punt to give Houston possession at its 25. The Cougars marched 75 yards down the field and Alridge put Houston up 42-10 with a 11-yard touchdown run.
The Cougars recorded their final points when redshirt freshman running back Andre Kohn scored from seven yards out for his first career touchdown run with 13:14 left in the game.
Houston played its reserves for most of the fourth quarter. Redshirt freshman quarterback L.J. Castile saw his first minutes at quarterback and redshirt freshman defensive lineman Isaiah Thompson and senior defensive lineman Fred Agho sacked UAB reserve quarterback Anthony Speight on the final play of the game. It was Thompson’s and Agho’s first career sacks.
