FORT WORTH, Texas — Houston coach Kevin Sumlin doesn't have to hear any more about that nearly three-decade postseason winless drought for the Cougars.

It's finally over.

Case Keenum ran for two touchdowns and threw for another and the Cougars wrapped up Sumlin's first season with a 34-28 victory over Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl today for their first bowl victory since 1980.

Houston (8-5) ended an eight-game bowl losing streak, avoiding a record the Cougars didn't want to share with Notre Dame. The Irish won the Hawaii Bowl last week to end their NCAA-record bowl losing streak at nine.

In a rematch of a hurricane-disrupted game 3› months ago that Air Force won, Houston never trailed after the Falcons fumbled the opening kickoff and Bryce Beall scored on a 1-yard run only 1› minutes into the game.

But the Cougars had to overcome two fourth-quarter turnovers, including a fumble at the goal line by Beall, the freshman who ran for 135 yards on 22 carries.

Keenum was 22-of-33 passing for 252 yards. It ended his streak of 13 consecutive 300-yard games, but he still became only the second Houston quarterback to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a season. His 5,020 yards is second only to David Klingler's 5,140 in 1990.

Air Force (8-5) didn't get another chance after Tim Jefferson's fourth-down pass from the Falcons' 37 was batted down at the line by Cody Lubojasky with 2:34 remaining.

Beall appeared to break into the end zone early in the fourth quarter, but the ball popped loose. Officials initially marked him down at the 1, but after a lengthy review ruled that he fumbled in the end zone and Air Force recovered.

The Falcons failed to get a first down, punting after Phillip Hunt's school-record 34th career sack.

Houston then needed only three plays to score, Keenum hit Andre Kohn for a 13-yard TD for a 31-20 lead with 11 minutes left after Beall's 24-yard burst up the middle.

But Keenum later had a pass that deflected off a receiver and was intercepted by Aaron Kirchoff. Fullback Jared Tew finished that drive with five straight carries for 27 yards, the last a 2-yard score that got the Falcons within 31-28 after a 2-point conversion.

Tew, getting his first career start because of an injury to starter Todd Newell, finished with 27 carries for 149 yards — only 30 yards fewer than he had in nine regular season games.

Jordan Mannisto then kicked his second field goal, a 37-yarder, before Air Force got its last chance.