Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Charles Sims ran for a career-high 210 yards
and a touchdown as the Houston Cougars dismissed the North Texas Mean Green,
44-21, in non-conference action at Robertson Stadium.
Sims carried the ball 21 times for the Cougars (2-3) as they logged 302 yards
and three TDs on the ground overall as they posted their second straight
victory. David Piland connected on 31-of-41 passes for 321 yards and two
touchdowns through the air as well for the hosts.
The Mean Green (2-4) was paced by Derek Thompson who converted 20-of-38 passes
for 252 yards, but he was picked off twice. Thompson was also credited with
nine rushing yards and a TD on three attempts as the visitors scored all three
of their TDs running the ball.
Houston scored the first 17 points of the night, beginning with a five-yard
touchdown run by Sims just 1:15 into the contest. Midway through the first
quarter Piland combined with Dewayne Peace on a 16-yard TD pass and later on
it was kicker Matt Hogan who knocked through a 21-yard field goal to give the
Cougars a 17-0 edge heading into the second frame.
UNT running back Antoinne Jimmerson finally broke through for the Mean Green
as he crossed the goal line from one yards out at the 6:44 mark.
However, Houston was quick to respond as Kenneth Farrow raced 48 yards to the
end zone just over a minute later to build the score to 24-7 in favor of the
Cougars.
The teams matched each other with touchdowns in the final minutes of the first
half as Jeremy Brown made it into the end zone on a 48-yard run to cap a brief
four-play, 77-yard drive for North Texas, while Sims reeled in a 27-yard
scoring pass from Piland at the 1:21 mark of the second quarter to give
Houston a 31-14 edge at the break.
On the first possession of the third quarter North Texas moved the ball 75
yards in seven plays and again cut into the deficit with a seven-yard
touchdown run by Thompson, but after that the Mean Green were never heard from
again as Houston closed with 13 straight points.
Hogan made good on field goal attempts of 50 and 23 yards in the third and
fourth quarters, respectively, and in between Piland registered a five-yard TD
run of his own to give the Cougars a comfortable 23-point win.
The Houston defense allowed a lofty 483 yards to the Mean Green, which wasn't
that far off from the 488.0 ypg permitted by the team heading into the week.
GAME NOTES:
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