Sports

Friday, Oct. 30, 2009

Southern Miss ready for high-powered Houston attack

Southern Miss will definitely need its ‘A’ game today to have any shot of upsetting 15th-ranked Houston.

The Cougars (6-1, 2-1 C-USA) play host to the Golden Eagles (5-3, 3-1) in a key Conference USA contest today at Robertson Stadium.

Houston, a touchdown favorite, has the nation’s top offensive squad that averages 546 yards and 44 points a game.

Texas-El Paso is the only team to beat Houston this season.

Quarterback Case Keenum, who has thrown for 2,734 yards and 20 touchdowns, makes the Cougars’ attack go.

“He has a very quick release, a strong arm and is a very good decision maker,” Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora said.

“He will pull the ball down and take off and make a play in a heartbeat. He can break your back.”

Keenum, one of only six C-USA quarterbacks with more than 10,000 career passing yards, said he respects the Golden Eagles’ defense. Southern Miss has C-USA’s top defensive squad.

“They have a really talented football team,’’ Keenum said. “They have a good scheme overall. Their defense is going to come out and play hard. We do know they have been successful against some talented football teams.”

Southern Miss’ best hopes for an upset rest on its running attack, which leads C-USA. Running backs Damion Fletcher and Tory Harrison spearhead a rushing game that averages 196 yards per contest.

“Damion Fletcher is one of the better running backs in the country,’’ Houston coach Kevin Sumlin said. “They’re (Fletcher and Harrison) both talented guys.

“The day that the running back has become the workhorse has become very limited because of the length of games and the number of hits.

“When you have two backs, it takes pressure off of one guy to have to do everything.”

The Golden Eagles and Houston have split their last two contests. The Golden Eagles won 31-27 three years ago, but the Cougars was victorious 34-20 in the 2007 C-USA Championship Game.

“We have the game plan in and everything is going good,” Fedora said. “Houston has an exceptional team.”