Keenum, UH roll past Penn State in TicketCity Bowl

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DALLAS — Houston's Case Keenum has done a lot in his college football career, from setting NCAA records to winning more games than any other UH quarterback.

But in the midst of the Cougars' celebration of their school-record 13th win Monday, Keenum did something he hadn't previously. He became an impromptu band director, leading the Spirit of Houston for a few moments.

"I saw somebody do that three or four years ago," Keenum said. "It looked like fun. It was fun."

The No. 20 Cougars had plenty of fun on the field in the preceding three-plus hours, sacking No. 24 Penn State 30-14 in the TicketCity Bowl before an announced crowd of 46,817 at the Cotton Bowl.

Keenum, who earned game MVP honors, orchestrated an eye-popping aerial performance, throwing for 532 yards and three touchdowns on 45-of-69 passing. The attempts were a season high for the Cougars, who outgained Penn State 600 yards to 306.

UH (13-1) set a school record for wins in a season, and new head coach Tony Levine became just the second coach in UH history to beat a nationally ranked team in his debut and the first since Harold Lahar in 1957.

Satisfying achievement

University of Houston quarterback Case Keenum (7) celebrates after throwing a 40-yard touchdown to Patrick Edwards. University of Houston quarterback Case Keenum (7) celebrates after throwing a 40-yard touchdown to Patrick Edwards. Photo: Nick De La Torre, Chronicle Photo: Nick De La Torre, Chronicle Image 1 of / 38 Caption Close Keenum, UH roll past Penn State in TicketCity Bowl 1 / 38 Back to Gallery

"The way our entire football team prepared leading up to this game, I think you saw kind of the fruits of their labor," Levine said. "We had a month to prepare. Our kids wanted to go out against a really, really tremendous opponent in a January bowl game on a national stage and show the country that our loss a month ago in the (Conference USA) championship game was not the norm. That was a fluke — not the 12 wins leading up to it."

Penn State (9-4) had a solid record against a tough schedule and the prestige stemming from its rich tradition and Big Ten Conference affiliation, but the Cougars looked like the perennial power.

With a Penn State defensive look they thought they could exploit, the Cougars forfeited the balance they tried to show in most of their wins and went pass-heavy, throwing the ball on their first 25 plays and 29 of their first 30. By the half, UH had thrown 46 times out of 50 plays and led 24-7.

Keenum spent most of the day finding senior receivers Patrick Edwards and Justin Johnson. Edwards caught 10 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns; Johnson recorded 12 catches for 148 yards and one touchdown. Senior receiver Tyron Carrier caught nine balls for 44 yards but left in the second quarter with a right leg injury and did not return.

"That one run probably wasn't called," Keenum said jokingly of the first 30 plays. "We weren't going to call many runs today. That (Penn State) defensive line — we have a lot of respect for those guys. I thought the offensive line did a good job with the game plan."

Defense does its part

The Cougars enjoyed success on defense as well. Penn State backup quarterback Rob Bolden, who got the start in place of the injured Matt McGloin, connected on just seven of 26 attempts and was intercepted three times — twice by senior safety Nick Saenz and once by linebacker Phillip Steward.

The Cougars knew Penn State would try to wear them down with its running game led by sophomore star Silas Redd, but UH kept the Nittany Lions in check, holding them to 3.8 yards per carry.

"I'm a big believer you're going to stop what your opponent likes to do," Levine said. "If they're going to beat you, they're going to beat you in a different way."

Keenum, whose Football Bowl Subdivision career records include those for passing yards (19,217), total offense (20,114) and TD passes (155), concluded his career in grand fashion. He set an NCAA bowl record for passing yards in a quarter (227, first) and stadium records for plays (76), total yards (542), passing attempts, completions and passing yards.

sam.khan@chron.com

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