Houston 49, UAB 10

10/20/2007 10:16 PM

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -Anthony Aldridge ran for 117 yards on 17 carries and scored 2 touchdowns to lead Houston to a 49-10 victory over UAB Saturday night.

Mark Hafner and Donnie Avery each caught five passes for a balanced Houston offense that generated 540 total yards. The Cougars (4-3, 3-1 Conference USA) had 335 yards rushing and 205 yards passing.

Houston used a two quarterback system, with Case Keenum and Blake Joseph each throwing for more than 100 yards and a touchdown.

UAB (2-5, 1-2) was led by Frantrell Forrest, who had five catches for 96 yards and one touchdown. The Blazers were held to 26 yards rushing and quarterback Sam Hunt threw four interceptions, all in the first half.

Linebacker Rocky Schwartz had two interceptions for Houston.

UAB jumped to a 3-0 lead when Swayze Waters kicked a 41-yard field goal early in the first quarter. The Blazers had a chance to pad their lead when Hunt hit Forrest for a 68-yard pass play that carried to the Houston 13-yard-line.

But Hunt's pass into the end zone was tipped and intercepted by Schwartz, who returned it to the Houston 34.

The Cougars drove deep into UAB territory, with Keenum throwing a 10-yard touchdown pass to Hafner.

On UAB's next possession, Kenneth Fontenette intercepted a Hunt pass and returned to the UAB 15. Three plays later Aldridge scored on a 8-yard run to give Houston a 14-3 lead.

Schwartz grabbed his second interception and returned it 21 yards to the UAB 34. The Cougars scored on a 1-yard run by Keenum to take a 21-3 lead. Houston made it 28-3 when it drove 57yu yards in 7 plays to score on a 1-yard run by Terrance Ganaway.

UAB closed the gap late in the first half when a 59-yard pass play from Hunt to Nick Coon set up a 4-yard scoring pass to Forrest. That pulled the Blazers to 28-10.

But Houston scored on a 19-yard pass from Joseph to Geron Harvey with one second left in the half to take a 35-10 lead.

UAB did not threaten in the second half as Houston pulled away on scoring runs of 11 yards by Aldridge and 7 yards by Andre Kohn.