Houston Football: 3 takeaways from Thursday night survival against Tulsa

3. Rushing attack proved critical for Cougars eventual victory

With King struggling to keep a consistent level of play in the first half through the air, the Houston staff opted to call more designed runs both for their quarterback and for their stable of running backs. It was a smart move by Applewhite and his offensive braintrust, as King led the way with 117 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries.

Patrick Carr led the way in the backfield with 91 rushing yards on 13 carries. Mulbah Car added 74 yards on 11 carries. The duo were both running hard and helping the Cougars keep the chains moving. While the Houston passing attack showed a proclivity for turning the ball over in the first half, the running game proved reliable both at gaining yards and at maintaining a grip on the football.

By the end of the game, the Cougars finished with 312 rushing yards as a team on 41 carries. The offensive line was clearing holes left and right, as the stable of runners finished with an average of 7.6 yards per carry.

Victory was hardly guaranteed for Houston, as they struggled to maintain a lead through the middle part of the contest. But the ground game helped them keep things close, maintain possession, and ultimately chew up the clock at the end. If Major Applewhite wants to keep his team in the running for the American Athletic Conference title, he will need to get this level of rushing production week in and week out.