The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Houston (HC)
UAB Falls to No. 14 Houston, 56-13
11/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 5, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Case Keenum threw for 407 yards to become the most prolific passer in NCAA history and he added his first two rushing touchdowns of the season to lead No. 14 Houston past UAB 56-13 on Saturday night.
UAB quarterback Jonathan Perry finished the night 15-of-29 passing for 149 yards and a touchdown, while running back Greg Franklin picked up 54 yards on 11 carries.
Blazer safety Jamie Bender forced a fumble and matched his career-high with 14 tackles on the defensive side of the ball, the most tackles by a UAB player this season.
Keenum passed Timmy Chang's career record of 17,072 yards passing for Hawaii from 2000-04. The Houston senior finished the game with 17,212 yards passing for his career.
Houston (9-0 overall, 5-0 Conference USA) has won its first nine games for the first time in school history.
Keenum completed a 16-yard pass to Justin Johnson in the third quarter to pass Chang's mark. He tied Chang's record with a 26-yard pass to Johnson on the previous play.
The quarterback, being pushed by Houston for Heisman Trophy consideration, already holds the NCAA career records for TD passes and total offense. He has passed for more than 400 yards in five games this season. He has passed for 34 touchdowns with only three interceptions.
The Blazers (1-8, 1-5) took the early lead on Perry's 9-yard pass to Patrick Hearn to cap a 12-play drive in the first quarter. It was Hearn's second touchdown grab of the season and the seventh of his career.
UAB, attempting to make the most of its momentum, then tried an onside kick, but Houston recovered on the Blazers' 47. Keenum led a quick touchdown drive capped by a 2-yard scoring pass to Tyron Carrier.
After that, UAB's only points came on Ty Long's field goals of 39 yards in the second quarter and 37 yards in the third. Long was 2-of-3 on the night and has now made good on 12 of 15 field goal attempts in his freshman campaign.
Keenum had 1-yard scoring runs in the second and third quarters. Charles Sims also scored from the 1 in the second quarter and Michael Hayes capped Houston's first possession of the second half with a 3-yard touchdown run.
Hayes had 16 carries for 93 yards. Sims had 14 carries for 71 yards.
Keenum added an 11-yard scoring pass to Johnson early in the fourth. The Cougars pushed their lead to 49-13 on D.J. Hayden's 52-yard interception return.
Cotton Turner took over for Keenum late in the game and threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Spencer.
