Houston Cougars down Southern Jaguars, 62-13 in season opener for both teams

Daniel Spencer scored three touchdowns for the  Houston 
Cougars against Southern University.
Photo by Darla Tamulitis-La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2013 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2013 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (September 2, 2013) With the offense passing for 255 yards and the rushing attack accounting for 372 yards, the Houston Cougars got off to a good start in the 2013 season by downing Southern University by the score of 62-13 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas on Friday evening, August 30, 2013.

The Cougars utilized a balanced attacked; employing the talents of third-year quarterback David Piland and true-freshman quarterback John O’Korn.

Piland and O’Korn combined for a total of 255 yards passing, with four aerial touchdowns.

Piland, the 6-3, 196 pound starting quarterback from Southlake, Texas, completed 15 of 23 passes form 148 yards and one touchdown.

He played the entire first half, except for one four-play series; when O’Korn was sent in to lead the offense.

Houston head coach Tony Levine addressed his decision concerning the quarterback platooning in the post-game press conference.

“That was out plan heading in, that John (O’Korn) would get the fourth series and then we were going to start the second half with David Piland and then O’Korn would play the rest of the second half.”

O’Korn completed 11-of-15 passes for 107 yards and three touchdowns.

On the ground, the Cougars tallied 372 yards with the duo of Ryan Jackson and Kenneth Farrow accounting for a combined 221 yards and two touchdowns.

Jackson carried the ball 10 times for 120 yards and two touchdowns.

When questioned by the media in the post-game press conference concerning the attitude of the offense during the game, Jackson commented:

“It’s all about execution and tonight we did that as a team. Part of the game and part of being a playmaker is playing with that attitude. I like that. We came out there tonight with that attitude to execute on offense.”

Richie Leone has added place kicking duties to his job
description for 2013.
Photo by Darla Tamulitis-La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2013, All Rights Reserved

Farrow contributed 101 yards on 20 carries.

In the air, Daniel Spencer caught nine passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns.

Kicker Richie Leone scored 11 points; going 5-for-5 on PATs and converting two field goals of 30 and 38 yards.

As a result, he was honored as the American Athletic Conference Special Team Player of the Week.

The Cougars will next face Temple University in Philadelphia, PA on Saturday, September 7, 2013 with a 12 noon EDT kickoff.