HOUSTON -- Greg Ward Jr. threw for a score and ran for another and No. 18 Houston's defense forced four turnovers in a 34-0 romp over Vanderbilt on Saturday night.
Ward rushed for a 5-yard score with three minutes left in the first and then found Demarcus Ayers for an 11-yard TD in the second quarter as the Cougars led 20-0 at the half. Ward finished 15 of 23 passing for 221 yards, as the Cougars reached 8-0 for the fourth time in school history and first time since 2011.
Kenneth Farrow carried 16 times for 82 yards and had a 15-yard rushing score near the end of the third quarter.
The Cougars outgained the Commodores 371-185, as Houston's defense collected its first shutout since a 34-0 win over SMU on Nov. 29, 2013.