Final
Houston ends 28-year bowl drought
Jan 1, 2009 - 4:34 AM FORT WORTH, Texas (Ticker) -- Notre Dame's recent victory over Hawaii left Houston with the dubious distinction of owning the longest current postseason losing streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision.However, the Cougars snapped an eight-game bowl slide Wednesday, overcoming a sub-par performance from quarterback Case Keenum to defeat Air Force, 34-28, in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Houston (8-5) won its first bowl game since defeating Navy, 35-0, in the 1980 Garden State Bowl. The Cougars avoided matching Notre Dame's record nine-game bowl losing streak, which the Fighting Irish ended with a 49-21 win on Christmas Eve.
"That bugged me to keep seeing that," Houston coach Kevin Sumlin told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about the school's bowl drought. They're the group that ended it. They can come back to games with pride. They played that way."
Air Force (8-5) held Houston's high-powered offense in check by dominating time of possession through three quarters. The Falcons put together an 18-play drive in the third quarter to close within 24-20 on Ryan Harrison's 37-yard field goal with 3:51 left in the period.
Keenum passed for a season-low 251 yards, well below his average of 397 yards, which led the FBS. Houston came into the game boasting the nation's No. 1 offense.
Keenum, who completed 22-of-33 passes, still became only the second Houston quarterback to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a season, joining David Klingler, who passed for 5,140 yards in 1990.
Keenum rushed for two touchdowns, including a 4-yard run that gave the Cougars a 24-17 lead with 12:35 left in the third quarter.
The sophomore then threw his only touchdown - a 13-yard strike Andre Kohn that made it 31-20 with just under 11 minutes left in the contest.
However, Keenum's interception allowed Air Force to close within 31-28 on Jared Tew's 2-yard TD run and quarterback Tim Jefferson's conversion run with six minutes to play. Jefferson completed 7-of-14 passes for 98 yards.
Houston converted two early turnovers by Air Force - including one on the opening kickoff - into 10 points. The Cougars grabbed a 17-7 lead on Jordan Mannisto's 22-yard field goal with four seconds left in the first quarter.
"Every chance you have to get points, you've got to convert," Air Force coach Troy Calhoun told the newspaper. "Especially on that part of the field, it's got to be at least three."
However, the Falcons regrouped in the second period and had some surprising success throwing the ball. Air Force tied the contest, 17-17, at halftime on Jefferson's 5-yard TD run and Ryan Harrison's 44-yard field goal.
Houston avenged a 31-28 loss to Air Force on September 13 in a game moved to Dallas due to Hurricane Ike. The Falcons dropped to 0-6 all-time in Fort Worth.
Freshman Bryce Beall paced Houston on the ground with 135 yards on 22 carries, while Tew rushed for 149 yards on 27 carries in his first career start for Air Force.
- ARMED FORCES BOWL
AT FORT WORTH TX
NCAAF FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 17 0 7 10 34
AIR FORCE 7 10 3 8 28 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: HOUSTON - TD, BRYCE BEALL 1 YD RUN (JORDAN
MANNISTO KICK), 1:33. HOUSTON
7-0
AIR FORCE - TD, JARED TEW 2 YD RUN (RYAN
HARRISON KICK), 3:32. HOUSTON
7-7
H
Dec 31 3:24 PM - ARMED FORCES BOWL
AT FORT WORTH TX
NCAAF ARMED FORCES BOWL
FG HOUSTON
JORDAN MANNISTO 37 YD
HOUSTON 34
AIR FORCE 28 3:24 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Houston 34, Air Force 28 4th - 3:24Dec 31 3:14 PM
TD AIR FORCE JARED TEW 2 YD RUN (TIMOTHY JEFFERSON RUN FOR TWO-POINT CONVERSION)
Houston 31, Air Force 28 4th - 6:06Dec 31 3:04 PM
TD AIR FORCE JARED TEW 2 YD RUN (TIMOTHY JEFFERSON RUN FOR TWO-POINT CONVERSION)
Houston 31, Air Force 28 4th - 6:06Dec 31 3:04 PM- ARMED FORCES BOWL
AT FORT WORTH TX
NCAAF ARMED FORCES BOWL
TD AIR FORCE
JARED TEW 2 YD RUN
(TIMOTHY JEFFERSON RUN FOR TWO-POINT CONVERSION)
HOUSTON 31
AIR FORCE 28 6:06 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Houston 31, Air Force 28 4th - 6:06Dec 31 3:04 PM
TD HOUSTON ANDRE KOHN 13 YD PASS FROM CASE KEENUM (JORDAN MANNISTO KICK)
Houston 31, Air Force 20 4th - 10:58Dec 31 2:47 PM
TD HOUSTON ANDRE KOHN 13 YD PASS FROM CASE KEENUM (JORDAN MANNISTO KICK)
Houston 31, Air Force 20 4th - 10:58Dec 31 2:47 PM
TD HOUSTON ANDRE KOHN 13 YD PASS FROM CASE KEENUM (JORDAN MANNISTO KICK)
Houston 31, Air Force 20 4th - 10:58Dec 31 2:47 PM- ARMED FORCES BOWL
AT FORT WORTH TX
NCAAF ARMED FORCES BOWL
TD HOUSTON
ANDRE KOHN 13 YD PASS FROM CASE KEENUM
(JORDAN MANNISTO KICK)
HOUSTON 31
AIR FORCE 20 10:58 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Houston 31, Air Force 20 4th - 10:58Dec 31 2:47 PM - ARMED FORCES BOWL
AT FORT WORTH TX
NCAAF END, 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 17 0 7 24
AIR FORCE 7 10 3 20 END, 3RD QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: HOUSTON - TD, BRYCE BEALL 1 YD RUN (JORDAN
MANNISTO KICK), 1:33. HOUSTON
7-0
AIR FORCE - TD, JARED TEW 2 YD RUN (RYAN
HARRISON KICK), 3:32. HOUST
Dec 31 2:28 PM - ARMED FORCES BOWL
AT FORT WORTH TX
NCAAF ARMED FORCES BOWL
FG AIR FORCE
RYAN HARRISON 37 YD
HOUSTON 24
AIR FORCE 20 3:51 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Houston 24, Air Force 20 3rd - 3:51Dec 31 2:18 PM
TD HOUSTON CASE KEENUM 4 YD RUN (JORDAN MANNISTO KICK)
Houston 24, Air Force 17 3rd - 12:35Dec 31 2:02 PM
TD HOUSTON CASE KEENUM 4 YD RUN (JORDAN MANNISTO KICK)
Houston 24, Air Force 17 3rd - 12:35Dec 31 2:02 PM- ARMED FORCES BOWL
AT FORT WORTH TX
NCAAF ARMED FORCES BOWL
TD HOUSTON
CASE KEENUM 4 YD RUN
(JORDAN MANNISTO KICK)
HOUSTON 24
AIR FORCE 17 12:35 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Houston 24, Air Force 17 3rd - 12:35Dec 31 2:02 PM - ARMED FORCES BOWL
AT FORT WORTH TX
NCAAF HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 17 0 17
AIR FORCE 7 10 17 HALFTIME
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: HOUSTON - TD, BRYCE BEALL 1 YD RUN (JORDAN
MANNISTO KICK), 1:33. HOUSTON
7-0
AIR FORCE - TD, JARED TEW 2 YD RUN (RYAN
HARRISON KICK), 3:32. HOUSTON
Dec 31 1:33 PM - ARMED FORCES BOWL
AT FORT WORTH TX
NCAAF ARMED FORCES BOWL
FG AIR FORCE
RYAN HARRISON 44 YD
HOUSTON 17
AIR FORCE 17 2:28 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Houston 17, Air Force 17 2nd - 2:28Dec 31 1:23 PM
TD AIR FORCE TIMOTHY JEFFERSON 5 YD RUN (RYAN HARRISON KICK)
Houston 17, Air Force 14 2nd - 9:52Dec 31 12:57 PM
TD AIR FORCE TIMOTHY JEFFERSON 5 YD RUN (RYAN HARRISON KICK)
Houston 17, Air Force 14 2nd - 9:52Dec 31 12:57 PM- ARMED FORCES BOWL
AT FORT WORTH TX
NCAAF ARMED FORCES BOWL
TD AIR FORCE
TIMOTHY JEFFERSON 5 YD RUN
(RYAN HARRISON KICK)
HOUSTON 17
AIR FORCE 14 9:52 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Houston 17, Air Force 14 2nd - 9:52Dec 31 12:57 PM - ARMED FORCES BOWL
AT FORT WORTH TX
NCAAF END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 17 17
AIR FORCE 7 7 END, 1ST QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: HOUSTON - TD, BRYCE BEALL 1 YD RUN (JORDAN
MANNISTO KICK), 1:33. HOUSTON
7-0
AIR FORCE - TD, JARED TEW 2 YD RUN (RYAN
HARRISON KICK), 3:32. HOUST
Dec 31 12:46 PM - ARMED FORCES BOWL
AT FORT WORTH TX
NCAAF ARMED FORCES BOWL
FG HOUSTON
JORDAN MANNISTO 22 YD
HOUSTON 17
AIR FORCE 7 0:04 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Houston 17, Air Force 7 1st - 0:04Dec 31 12:44 PM
TD HOUSTON CASE KEENUM 1 YD RUN (JORDAN MANNISTO KICK)
Houston 14, Air Force 7 1st - 8:10Dec 31 12:24 PM
TD HOUSTON CASE KEENUM 1 YD RUN (JORDAN MANNISTO KICK)
Houston 14, Air Force 7 1st - 8:10Dec 31 12:24 PM- ARMED FORCES BOWL
AT FORT WORTH TX
NCAAF ARMED FORCES BOWL
TD HOUSTON
CASE KEENUM 1 YD RUN
(JORDAN MANNISTO KICK)
HOUSTON 14
AIR FORCE 7 8:10 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Houston 14, Air Force 7 1st - 8:10Dec 31 12:24 PM
TD AIR FORCE JARED TEW 2 YD RUN (RYAN HARRISON KICK)
Houston 7, Air Force 7 1st - 11:28Dec 31 12:15 PM
TD AIR FORCE JARED TEW 2 YD RUN (RYAN HARRISON KICK)
Houston 7, Air Force 7 1st - 11:28Dec 31 12:15 PM- ARMED FORCES BOWL
AT FORT WORTH TX
NCAAF ARMED FORCES BOWL
TD AIR FORCE
JARED TEW 2 YD RUN
(RYAN HARRISON KICK)
HOUSTON 7
AIR FORCE 7 11:28 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Houston 7, Air Force 7 1st - 11:28Dec 31 12:15 PM
TD HOUSTON BRYCE BEALL 1 YD RUN (JORDAN MANNISTO KICK)
Houston 7, Air Force 0 1st - 13:27Dec 31 12:06 PM
TD HOUSTON BRYCE BEALL 1 YD RUN (JORDAN MANNISTO KICK)
Houston 7, Air Force 0 1st - 13:27Dec 31 12:06 PM- ARMED FORCES BOWL
AT FORT WORTH TX
NCAAF ARMED FORCES BOWL
TD HOUSTON
BRYCE BEALL 1 YD RUN
(JORDAN MANNISTO KICK)
HOUSTON 7
AIR FORCE 0 13:27 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Houston 7, Air Force 0 1st - 13:27Dec 31 12:06 PM
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