Houston Too Much for Arizona St. : Cougars Roll Up Yardage, Penalties, Turnovers, Interceptions

TEMPE, Ariz. —  Andre Ware threw for a school-record 497 yards and two touchdowns while Chuck Weatherspoon scored on a 32-yard run and a 58-yard punt return as No. 17 Houston overcame a rash of miscues to beat Arizona State, 36-7, Saturday night.

The Cougars (2-0), idle since beating Nevada Las Vegas, 69-0, in their season-opener Sept. 2, overcame seven turnovers, a school-record 23 penalties and 236 yards in penalties to defeat the Sun Devils (2-1) for the first time here since 1952.

Houston, with its run-and-shoot offense, rolled up 414 of its 744 yards in total offense by halftime and led, 19-7, as it ended a five-game losing streak against Arizona State.

The total yardage by the Cougars set a Southwest Conference record and was the most allowed by Arizona State in its 91-year football history.

Ware, a junior, completed 24 of 41 passes for 310 yards in the first half and finished 40 of 68 with four interceptions. His attempts and completions also set school records.

Houston lost three fumbles, had a punt blocked and missed both an extra point and a 31-yard field goal.

Ware had a two-point conversion pass batted away and was intercepted at the Arizona five-yard line, one-yard line and twice in the Sun Devil end zone.

Arizona State had five turnovers--all on interceptions--and was held to just 145 yards total offense.

Weatherspoon, who rushed for 122 yards in 10 carries, also scored on a punt return with 12:07 remaining in the game.

Kurt Lasher, a redshirt freshman making his first start, completed only seven of 20 passes for 90 yards with three interceptions. He was forced into the lineup because junior starter Paul Justin missed the game with a sprained left shoulder.