Today, in 1978, #17 Houston shocked #6 Texas A&M 33-0 in an Astrodome rout. The Aggies came into the game having given up just one touchdown in their first four games, but the Cougars scored five times in seven first-half drives.
A&M had averaged 43 points in those four games, but the Mad Dog defense did not allow them to score. A&M fumbled four times, including at the one-yard line early in the 3rd quarter. The Ags ran the ball 62 times for just 110 yards.
“The problem was that they whipped us on the line of scrimmage,” A&M coach Emory Bellard said. “What else can you say?”
On UH’s first possession, quarterback Danny Davis led the offense down the field, going 76 yards in 13 plays, before throwing a touchdown pass to Willis Adams.
Running back Randy Love ran for 97 yards and had two touchdowns.
“We knew if we kept running at them, we’d break something,” Love said. “And once we got three touchdowns, that was it. Nobody’s going to score three touchdowns on our defense.”
It was UH’s first shutout since the 30-0 win in Austin in 1976. Beating A&M was Houston’s second top-ten win in three games. The Cougars beat #9 Florida State two weeks prior.
