HOUSTON -- The Houston Cougars' run-and-shoot, ineffective against Southwest Conference leader Texas a week ago, was back to its record-setting ways against a lesser opponent Saturday night.
David Klingler threw for 572 yards and set an NCAA record with 11 touchdown passes, leading Houston to an 84-21 rout over outmanned Eastern Washington.
Klingler's 11 scoring strikes broke the NCAA mark of nine touchdown passes in a game set by San Diego State's Dennis Shaw in 1969.
Klingler, who completed 41 of 58 with two interceptions, also tied the NCAA record for most touchdown passes in a season at 47, set by Brigham Young's Jim McMahon in 1980. Houston has one game remaining against Arizona State in Tokyo on Dec. 1.
'It was just that we executed extremely well tonight,' Klingler said. 'That's the only reason the score turned out the way it did. The records were nice, but I would give them all away for a win last week.'
The Cougars, who are on probation and ineligible for a bowl game, lost their bid for an undefeated season last week when they fell to Texas, 45-24.
Klingler spread his touchdown throws Saturday among eight receivers and Eric Blount returned an interception 37 yards for a score for the Cougars, 9-1. Houston had its first-team offense and defense on the field until midway in the fourth quarter.
'I'm not going to take Klingler out of the game at halftime when he hasn't played but a few snaps and we're off next week,' said Houston Coach John Jenkins. 'He has to get his reps in or Arizona State would kick our butts.
'Running out of bounds, taking a knee, what have you, is degrading your opponent. Anyone on my team plays as hard as he can every play and everyone knows that by now.'
Eastern Washington, a Division I-AA school, dropped to 5-6. The Eagles were added to the schedule after Temple, which lost to Houston 65-7 last season, cancelled its game this year. The Eagles were paid $175,000 to play the Cougars.
The win was the biggest for Houston since a 95-21 win over Southern Methodist last year, a game in which the Cougars mounted an NCAA-record 1,021 yards total offense. The loss represented the most points allowed by Eastern Washington.
'We couldn't stay with them offensively at all, and we had some kids quit in the kicking game,' said Eagles Coach Dick Zornes. 'We couldn't shut them down and we didn't think we really could. It was just a track meet out there.
'That (keeping Houston starters in so long) is their style and I won't argue with it. We came prepared for that. By taking the game, we knew they wouldn't call the dogs off.'
Chuck Weatherspoon rushed for 123 yards, raising his season total to 1,056 and becoming the fourth player in SWC history to rush for 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. Manny Hazard caught nine passes, raising his season total to 70 to become the league's all-time reception leader.
Klingler threw for 361 yards and six touchdowns in the first half as Houston opened a 42-14 lead at halftime.
Houston scored on the opening possession of the second half as Klingler hit Verlond Brown from 40 yards. Klingler was intercepted by Jackie Kellogg, but Eastern Washington's Tom Lucas fumbled and Allen Aldridge recovered for Houston, setting up Klingler's 8-yard scoring pass to Patrick Cooper for a 56-14 lead.
Klingler threw his ninth touchdown pass late in the third quarter, a 7-yarder to Craig Alexander.
He threw an 8-yarder to TiAndre Sanders early in the fourth quarter and fired a 51-yarder to Grant with 12:40 left, giving Houston a 77-14 lead.
Blount's interception return boosted Houston to an 84-14 lead with 11:40 remaining.
Mark Tenneson threw his third touchdown pass for the Eagles with 3:47 left, hitting Greg Saunders from 6 yards.
