Ten years ago today, the 17th-ranked Houston Cougars beat Temple, 24-13, to win the AAC Championship game, earning a trip to the Peach Bowl as part of the New Year’s Six.
Greg Ward ran for 148 yards and two TDs and would be the game’s MVP. It was Ward’s 18th win in 20 starts at QB. Houston was now 12-1 on the season.
UH jumped to an early 10-0 lead after turnovers on Temple’s first two series. In the second quarter, Ward eluded four tackles and raced down the left sideline for a 47-yard touchdown to make it 17-0.
“When the ball is in his hands, usually good things are going to happen,” head coach Tom Herman said. “He certainly is the gas that runs the engine on offense.”
Ward scored again in the third quarter on a 10-yard run, breaking two tackles and carrying a guy into the end zone.
It was Houston’s first conference title since 2006 and just its third since 1984.
“We along with the coaches have been working since January and having practices at 4 a.m,” Ward said after the game. “At first we didn’t want a change and a new culture, but we all got through it together.”
The prior season, Houston won a wild game in the Armed Forces Bowl, scoring 22 points in the final four minutes to win. 11 months later, they set themselves up for a January 31st showdown vs. No. 9 Florida State.
“Just being able to play in a New Year’s Bowl is going to be great for the team, for the university and the great players that have come through here,” an excited Elandon Roberts said after the game.
William Jackson III was credited with seven pass breakups, and the Cougar defense broke up 11 of Temple’s 18 incompletions.
After two games with under 30,000 in attendance earlier in the season, the Houston fanbase showed up and made a difference.
“They certainly had a home-field advantage,” Temple coach Matt Rhule said. “It was a credit to them. Their fans should be commended.”
All photos below courtesy of Houston Athletics
