Oct. 2, 2004

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - DeAngelo Williams rushed for a school-record 262 yards while scoring four touchdowns Saturday to lead Memphis to a 41-14 victory over Houston.

Williams, who became the Tigers' leading career rusher in the game, scored on runs of 24, 39 and a pair of 3-yarders as Memphis racked up 501 yards in total offense. Williams' 262 yards in the game topped the Memphis record of 260 yards by Paul 'Skeeter' Gowen against Tulsa in 1969.

And, if that wasn't enough, Williams' rushing mark eclipsed the record of yards by an opponent against Houston set by LSU's Kevin Faulk in 1996.

Houston could manage only one offensive score - a 56-yard pass from Kevin Kolb to Vincent Marshall in the fourth quarter. Marshall finished with eight catches for 131 yards.

The Cougars' other touchdown came on a 75-yard interception return by Willie Gaston in the third quarter. The Cougars were held to 285 yards of offense.

Memphis, which had gotten off to slow starts in recent games, jumped out early behind the running of Williams. The junior had 129 yards on his first nine carries, had scored twice and broken the Tigers' career rushing record by the first minute of the second quarter.

Williams broke the career mark set by Tiger fullback Dave Casinelli from 1960-63.

Between Williams' first-half touchdown runs, quarterback Danny Wimprine connected with Chris Kelley on a 27-yard TD pass - giving the Tigers a 21-0 halftime lead.

Memphis collected 271 yards of offense in the half.

Meanwhile, the Tiger defense was holding the Cougar offense to 149 yards, led by a pair of sacks and a fumble recovery by Marcus West. Houston's deepest penetration in the first half reached the Memphis 29, but Kolb's fourth-down pass was dropped in the end zone by Marshall.

Along with Williams' two second-half touchdowns, Stephen Gostkowski added field goals of 47 and 30 yards.