FORT WORTH, Texas — Yes, the Houston Cougars snapped their two-game streak of failing to score points on Friday. But don’t forget about the Houston defense.
The Cougars’ defense (2-4, 1-2 Big 12) played a huge role in helping them beat TCU (3-3, 1-2), 30-19. Sure, points are great for offense. Houston’s defense had given up just 20 points per game entering the contest.
But, when the offense isn’t scoring — as it failed to do against Cincinnati (34-0) and Iowa State (20-0), good defense doesn’t matter.
But it mattered on Friday. The Horned Frogs offense was one of the most prolific in college football going into the game. TCU finished with 299 total yards and had no discernable run game, as it gained just 66 yards. The Horned Frogs were 3-for-10 on third down.
Quarterback Josh Hoover was sacked three times but he was harassed all evening. Only Keith Cooper was credited with a quarterback hurry (he had two). But watch the game, and you will realize that Hoover’s pocket was never comfortable.
How Houston’s Defense Did It
“Our focus was getting a great pass rush,” Cooper said. “With that rush comes coverage (in the secondary). We get them off the spot, make them uncomfortable, and we’re able to get takeaways.”
No factor in the game was more critical than takeaways. The Cougars set a tone. Houston entered the game with the same turnover margin as TCU — minus-6. The pair were tied for No. 121 in the country.
The Cougars forced four turnovers, three of them out of Hoover. Those led to 10 points, which was basically the difference in the game. Meanwhile, Houston’s offense didn’t cough up the football.
The game swung early. The Cougars snapped their scoreless streak, the result of quarterback Zeon Chriss’ 8-yard touchdown pass to Devan Williams in the first quarter. TCU took over, and the Horned Frogs have one of the best offenses in the country. TCU quarterback Josh Hoover got the Horned Frogs moving quickly, picking up three first downs in short order.
But the drive ended at the Cougars 39. Cougars safety A.J. Haulcy picked him off, the first of two interceptions he had in the game.
Turns out they worked on that play all week, as Haulcy slid underneath the receiver and Hoover never saw him.
“Two (receivers) ran on the hash, but I was a bit too busy to worry about disguising,” Haulcy said. “So during the game, I just thought, ‘I’m going to get to the spot and the quarterback tried to look me off a little bit, and I just saw the football.”
At key moments, Houston sapped TCU’s momentum. A sack by Houston’s Michael Batton early in the third quarter disrupted an early Horned Frogs drive. Hershey McLaurin punched the football away from TCU wide receiver J.P. Richardson for a turnover, which led to a Cougars field goal.
Houston coach Willie Fritz, relieved to have the shutout streak snapped, found little to quibble with from his defense.
“We’re going to go back and critique it,” Fritz said. “I don’t think we tackled as well as we needed to. But great job by the defense. They shut them down, gave up a little yardage, a couple of drives in the second half. I thought they did a super job.”
You can find Matthew Postins on X (formerly Twitter) @PostinsPostcard.
