Cougars: We Are The Champions

From staff and Conference USA reports
©2006 Bonesville.net. All rights reserved.

The Houston Cougars rewarded a record home crowd Friday night with a 34-20 victory over the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles and a Conference USA championship.

In a game played before a national TV audience on ESPN2 and 31,818 fans in Robertson Stadium, the Cougars stormed back from a 17-13 halftime deficit to claim their first league title since 1996 and a berth opposite a Southeastern Conference opponent in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis (Dec. 29, 4:30 p.m., ESPN.)

Houston, C-USA's West Division champion, improved to 10-3 with the win, the program's most victories since 1990. The Cougars have won six games in a row.

The East Division champion Golden Eagles, who have won four conference championships since the league began sponsoring football in 1996, fell to 8-5 on the season and will face Ohio of the Mid-American Conference in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, AL (Jan. 7, 8 p.m., ESPN.)

Vincent Marshall, Houston's career receiving leader, was named the game's most valuable player after catching eight passes for 100 yards. Marshall also had a touchdown run on a lateral.

Cougars quarterback Kevin Kolb, making his 49th career start, threw two touchdown passes to Biren Ealy and ran for another score while completing 19 of 31 passes for 258 yards to become C-USA's career passing leader.

PAGE UPDATED 02/23/07 11:32 AM.

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