Nov. 24, 2008

After their huge performances in victories last week, Houston sophomore QB Case Keenum and Tulsa senior RB Tarrion Adams share this week's Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week award. Defensive honors went to Rice freshman DB Travis Bradshaw, while special teams recognition was given to UTEP P Kyle Peterson.

Trailing by 19 points, 28-9, early in the third quarter, Keenum passed for a career-high 480 yards and three touchdowns, to rally the Cougars past UTEP, 42-37, in the largest comeback in UH history. Keenum also rushed for two touchdowns, and his one-yard sneak with 41 seconds to play gave the Cougars the five-point win. He completed 41-of-51 of his attempts with no interceptions and led the Cougars on five second-half touchdown drives en route to his school-record 12th straight 300-yard plus passing effort. This is the second straight week and third time this season that Keenum has been named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week.

Adams ran for a school record 323 yards and one touchdown on 33 carries in a 56-7 win over Tulane. The 323 yards is the second-best mark ever in Conference USA and it's the third-best rushing performance this year by a football bowl subdivision player. Adams had 198 yards on 17 carries in the first half for an 11.6 average as Tulsa built a 28-7 halftime lead. Adams became just the second player in school history to rush for over 3,000 career yards and is only the third player in school history to have two seasons of surpassing 1,000 yards. His performance on Saturday broke the previous school record of 312 yards set by Mark Brus in 1990 against New Mexico State.

Bradshaw was credited with 11 tackles (his fourth double-digit tackle game in as many starts), recovered a fumble and broke up a pass as the Owls held Marshall to just 85 total yards in the second half and 268 yards overall in a 35-10 Rice victory. The 10 points were the fewest allowed by an Owl defense since 2004 and their best showing in terms of yards allowed since giving up 212 to Houston in 2004.

Peterson punted five times for 249 yards (49.8 avg.) at Houston, including a career long punt of 60 yards. Two of his punts resulted in touchbacks and one landed inside the 20 yard line. Peterson ranks fourth among all C-USA punters with a 43.4 yard average.