SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 9, 2012
Louisiana Tech 56, Houston 49: Colby Cameron threw for 353 yards and three touchdowns as the host Cougars overcame an epic performance from Houston quarterback David Piland in a shootout at Robertson Stadium.
Louisiana Tech (1-0) appeared helpless to stop Piland, who competed 53 of 77 passes for 580 yards and four touchdowns. The Cougars instead countered with a more balanced offense, as Cameron went 34-of-52 and running back Tevin King contributed rushing 112 yards and three touchdowns.
The teams combined to rack up nearly 1,300 total yards, with Houston leading the way with 693.
Louisiana Tech took control of a one-point game at the half by scoring the first two touchdowns of the third quarter to take a 35-20 lead. King scored on a 59-yard touchdown run, and Kenneth Dixon followed with a 2-yard score with 6:09 remaining in the quarter.
Houston (0-2) cut the deficit back to eight 17 seconds later on a 74-yard touchdown pass from Piland to Daniel Spencer, but the Bulldogs put two more unanswered touchdowns on the board to go back ahead, 49-27, with 12:33 remaining in the game.
The Cougars managed two touchdowns in the final 4:45 to cut the deficit back to seven.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Piland finished five completions short of the FBS single-game record. He completed passes to 10 different receivers, including 11 each to Dewayne Peace and Charles Sims. กญ The Cougars punted the ball just four times during the game, but one was a 77-yarder by Richie Leone. กญHouston committed 15 penalties for 138 yards.