Tulsa 56, Houston 7
11/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 10, 2007
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• On Paul Smith's 37-yard touchdown pass to Dion Toliver in the third quarter, Smith became the single-season passing leader surpassing Billy Guy Anderson and became the career-passing leader surpassing T.J. Rubley. He has 3,496 passing yards this year and has 9,367 in his career. Smith also tied Jerry Rhome for most touchdown passes in a single season with 32 touchdowns.
• This was the 33rd meeting between Tulsa and Houston; the Cougars lead the series 17-16.
• Senior linebacker Chris Chamberlain started on both offense and defense, while also being in on the opening kickoff.
• Senior quarterback Paul Smith's three-yard rushing touchdown was his team leading 10th rushing touchdown.
• Junior wide receiver Brennan Marion's 53-yard touchdown reception was his sixth catch this season of over 50 yards and fifth for a touchdown. Marion added a 32-yard touchdown reception, giving him 13 of 23 total catches for over 30 yards including all eight of his touchdown receptions.
• Tulsa scored a touchdown on its first two possessions for the first time since the UCF game on October 20, 2007.
• TU's defense held Houston scoreless in the first quarter, marking the third time this season Tulsa has held its opponent scoreless in the first quarter. It was also the fifth quarter this season that the Golden Hurricane kept the opposition off the scoreboard.
• Senior nose guard Brandon Jones' block of Houston's second quarter field goal was the first blocked field goal or PAT by TU since September 23, 2006 against Navy, when Moton Hopkins and Nick Graham blocked a PAT in overtime to defeat Navy.
• With his 51-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter, freshman Charles Clay now has two 51-yard touchdown receptions and a total of five on the season.
• Tulsa's 35 points in the first half was the most points in a half this season, TU scored 31 points in the first half in both the BYU and Marshall games. The last time Tulsa scored 35 points in a half was Senior Day 2005 against East Carolina on November 12, when the Golden Hurricane scored 35 second half points. • Tulsa held Houston scoreless in the first half, which was the first time TU held an opponent scoreless in the first half since November 24, 2006 against Tulane.
• Tulsa's 35-point lead at halftime was the most since August 30, 2001 against Indiana State, when TU lead by 34 points at half.
• Paul Smith's five touchdowns in the first half was a career high for a half. Of his five touchdowns, four were passing the equaling the most of his career in a half, four against BYU.
• Senior linebacker Nelson Coleman had 16 tackles in the game, surpassing Chicago Bears' Head Coach Lovie Smith moving into third-place on the career tackles list.
• TU has scored 49 plus points in consecutive games for the first time since 1981 season when they scored 52 points against Wichita State and 59 points against Drake.
• Tulsa's five takeaways in this game was the most this season and most since they had five against Louisiana Tech on November 15, 2003.
• Paul Smith went over 300 yards passing for the 10th time this season, setting a new C-USA single-season record and Tulsa school record.
• After this game, Tulsa will now have the top-two players on the career freshman-receiving list. Trae Johnson is first with 47 catches for 736 yards and seven touchdowns; Charles Clay is second with 42 catches for 681 yards and five touchdowns.
• 56 points is the most Tulsa has ever scored against Houston, besting the 46 points they scored in 1951. It was also TU's largest margin of victory over Houston, 49 points, bettering the 19-point margin in 1951.
• Tulsa's 49-point win was the largest since defeating North Texas by 52 points on September 17, 2005.
• Seven points allowed was a season low for Tulsa, the last game Tulsa allowed less than seven points was against Tulane on November 24, 2006 (three).
