Tulane Falls to Houston, 35-14

[DJRamFan]

Ricard goes 12-of-32 passing for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

Oct. 8, 2005






LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - Ryan Gilbert rushed for 130 yards and scored three touchdowns - one on a 42-yard passing play and one on a 42-yard run - as Houston defeated Tulane 35-14 on Saturday night.

Kevin Kolb was 11-of-22 passing for 192 yards for Houston (3-2, 2-1 Conference USA), which turned a halftime tie into a blowout with four straight touchdowns before Tulane (2-2, 1-1) scored its final points with under five minutes to go.

Unable to play in New Orleans because of Hurricane Katrina, Tulane hosted the game instead at Cajun Field, regular home of Louisiana-Lafayette.

Houston grabbed a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter on Gilbert's touchdown reception from Kolb. Tulane tied the game just over 10 minutes later, when Lester Ricard connected with Preston Brown on a 13-yard pass play.

The score remained tied until the third quarter, when Gilbert ran 10 yards for the first of his two rushing touchdowns. Gilbert gave Houston a 21-7 lead on his longer scoring run with 7:23 remaining in the quarter.

Jackie Battle scored on a 1-yard run, then Kolb added an 8-yard touchdown run mid way through the fourth quarter, to make it 35-7. Battle finished with 79 yards rushing.

Ricard was 12-of-32 passing for 117 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked three times.

Matt Forte led the Green Wave with 79 yards rushing on 21 carries, while Jovon Jackson added 71 yards on 11 runs.