HOUSTON -- The sixth-ranked Houston Cougars were determined to take care of business this year after Connecticut detailed their perfect season a year ago.Greg Ward Jr. made sure they did just that.Ward Jr. threw for a career-high 389 yards and accounted for five touchdowns in just more than three quarters to help Houston beat Connecticut 42-14 on Thursday night.Houstons only blemish last season came in the 20-17 loss to the Huskies when they were 10-0.We never use the word revenge, coach Tom Herman said. The word we used was atonement -- to make a wrong a right. We had a chance to atone for the transgressions of last years team.Ward didnt start that game because of an ankle injury, and there was a scary moment early in the second quarter when he took a hard hit in the midsection by Junior Joseph on a flea-flicker and had to leave the game.But he missed just one play before returning and showed no ill effects from the blow, leading the Cougars (5-0, 2-0 American) on three more touchdown drives in the half to leave Houston up 28-7 at halftime.Herman didnt think missing last years game against UConn made this one more important to Ward.I think Wards got a chip on his shoulder every week, I dont know that it was any bigger this week, Herman said. I think the whole team had a juice and a pep in their step knowing what this opponent did to last years team and they wanted to make sure it didnt happen again.Ward and Joseph got in each others faces after another hit by the linebacker on a touchdown throw by Ward later in the second quarter, and it earned Joseph an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.Joseph said the run-in was totally my fault before raving about the quarterback.Hes probably the best player I played against, Joseph said. Hes very electric. Thats why hes in the race for the Heisman. Just a great player.Ward had touchdown runs of 30 and 10 yards and threw scoring passes of 3, 15 and 4 yards. He was replaced by Kyle Postma with 12 minutes remaining.Ward doesnt like talking about himself and deflected questions about his big game.The stats, I dont think about that at all, he said. The only stat that I worry about is win-loss.Noel Thomas had a career-high 135 yards receiving and a touchdown for Connecticut (2-3, 0-2), and Bryant Shirreffs threw for 239 yards and ran for a TD.Losing is terrible, Bob Diaco said. We obviously wanted to finish phase one of our season better than 2-3. A play here and a play there, and that would have been the case.THE TAKEAWAYCONNECTICUT: The Huskies didnt commit any turnovers after being plagued by them in recent weeks, but they were simply overmatched by the Cougars on both sides of the ball.HOUSTON: The Cougars continued the dominance theyve shown all season, having no trouble putting away the Huskies after last years misstep. With Ward leading the offense and a swarming defense which finished with four sacks, its hard to imagine that anyone has much of a chance to beat the Cougars before their Nov. 17 showdown with No. 3 Louisville.POLL IMPLICATIONSThe Cougars should maintain their spot in the poll after cruising past an opponent they were expected to beat. But they could jump a spot or two if any of the teams above them lose on Saturday.INJURY REPORTThe Cougars werent slowed by playing without three starters on Thursday. Running back Duke Catalon missed the game with a concussion and linebackers Tyus Bowser and Matthew Adams both sat out after a fight on Wednesday during games meant for team building.The two got over competitive, Herman said. Things briefly got out of hand during one of the games and resulted in a scuffle between Tyus and Matt ... it was a freak accident and the result of the scuffle was a broken bone for Tyus.Bowser will be out for a few weeks with the head injury and Adams was suspended for Thursdays game but will return next week.BONNER IMITATES IDOLLinell Bonner had a highlight-reel play when he stretched out to grab a reception with one hand for a touchdown that pushed Houstons lead to 42-7 in the third quarter. He finished with 12 receptions for 159 yards -- both career highs. The one-handed catch was reminiscent of some of the grabs DeAndre Hopkins often makes for the Houston Texans.Bonner was asked if that catch was a Hopkins impression.Thats my favorite NFL receiver right now. I really look up to him so I could say yeah, Bonner said before flashing a huge smile.UP NEXTCONNECTICUT: The Huskies host Cincinnati on Oct. 8.HOUSTON: The Cougars visit Navy on Oct. 8.---Online: AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.orgAustin Hays Jersey . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. Ken Singleton Jersey . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. https://www.cheaporioles.com/1268i-melvin-mora-jersey-orioles.html . Booth picked up 65 caps after making her national team debut in 2002 at the age of 17. She most recently played for Sky Blue FC of the National Womens Soccer League. "It just felt like it was my time to move on," she said in a phone interview from her hometown of Burlington, Ont. Rich Dauer Jersey . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. Cole Sulser JerseyTHOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Bernhard Langer has a left knee injury that could force him to withdraw from the PowerShares QQQ Championship, the inaugural Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs event.Im not sure Ill be able to play tomorrow, but Ill make that call at noon when my tee time is, Langer said Thursday. For right now, Ive been getting treatment and trying to stay off my knee.Simply, the decision will come down to whether the he can hit the ball.I tried yesterday and it didnt work, Langer said. I cant transfer my weight. I cant put any pressure on my left knee.The 59-year-old German star leads the 50-and-over tour with tour four victories and has wrapped up the season money title with $2,697,459.I had an MRI on Monday because I couldnt walk properly and just had problems, Langer said. Obviously, havent hit a shot yet, havent been out on the course. I walked it, but I havent hit a shot yet because I cant, I cant put much pressure on my knee. Walking these hills is very difficult, especially downhill.The top 72 players on the money list earned spot at Sherwood Country Club, the former site of Greg Normans Shark Shootout and Tiger Woods event that is now called the Hero World Challenge. The playoff field will be cut to 54 for the Dominion Charity Classic next week in Richmond, Virginia, and to 36 for the Charles Schwab Cup Championship the follow week in Scottsdale, Arizona.Each dollar earned in the first two events is worth two points and will be added to the regular season total. At the Charlees Schwab Championship, points will be reset so that the top five only have to win to capture the Charles Schwab Cup.ddddddddddddLanger has a big enough advantage over second-place Miguel Angel Jimenez that he would keep the lead event even if he doesnt play this week.I came all the way here from south Florida and committed to play, said Langer, a three-time Cup champion. But if Im going to do long term damage, the last thing I want to do is try and play and do further damage and then I cant play next week or the following week, which that would really be bad if I cant play the Schwab Cup. You know, the priority is to get my health. You cant play golf if youre not healthy. The game is hard enough when youre healthy, you dont need to be injured.Fred Couples is attempting to play after sitting out eight months with a back injury.Im honestly hoping to get through this, the 57-year-old Couples said. Its one of my favorite golf courses, so I found out last week that I was in the playoff. I havent played since February, so I thought, `You know, Ill commit. I hit balls on Friday before I committed and actually felt OK.John Daly qualified 70th. He has five top-25 finishes in 14 starts since turning 50.All of us old guys have seen this course a few times, so theres no home-field advantage, Daly said. Ive heard nothing but great things about the changes and everything. ' ' '