University of Houston
Tulsa
Houston Edges Tulsa, 30-23
10/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 1, 2005
Final Stats | Notes | Final Stats in PDF
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Houston safety Joseph Gonzalez stripped the ball from Tulsa tight end Garrett Mills and teammate Kenneth Fontenette recovered the fumble at the 4-yard line with 42 seconds left as Houston beat Tulsa 30-23 Saturday night.
The play ended a frantic comeback by Tulsa (2-3, 1-1 Conference USA). The Golden Hurricane scored on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Paul Smith to Ryan Bugg with 5:06 to play, held the Cougars on downs, then marched from their 24 to the Houston 9.
Smith hit Mills over the middle, and just when it appeared he might score, Gonzalez poked the ball away.
After a sluggish start, Houston's offense turned a 13-3 deficit into a 30-16 lead. Quarterback Kevin Kolb threw for 266 yards and one touchdown, tailback Ryan Gilbert ran for a career-high 134 yards and two touchdowns and wide receiver Vincent Marshall amassed 137 yards on 8 catches, including a 65-yard touchdown strike from Kolb.
Ahead 23-13 at the half, Houston padded the lead on a 9-yard scamper by Gilbert.
But Smith, who completed 26 of 49 passes for 283 yards, moved the Hurricane 68 yards in five plays, with key passes of 28 yards to Richard McQuillar and 22 yards to Idriss Moss. He then hit Bugg in the left corner of the end zone.
Just as it looked like Tulsa might force the game into overtime, Mills lost control.
In the first half, Tulsa was leading 13-3 when Ashlan Davis returned the opening kickoff 52 yards, setting up a 45-yard drive capped by a 6-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Mills.
Tulsa's second score came when Nick Graham blocked a Houston punt and Kinny Spotwood returned it 23 yards for a score.
The Cougars rallied when Smith fumbled at his own 12-yard line and Jackie Battle plunged over from the 2 four plays later. Kolb hit Marshall over the middle and Marshall outraced the TU secondary 65 yards for another score.
Tulsa's offense devolved into a series of dropped passes, fumbles, a blocked quick kick and numerous penalties as the Hurricane managed only a 21-yard field goal by Brad DeVault until the late rally.
Houston finished with 476 yards to Tulsa's 360. Houston limited Tulsa to 77 yards rushing on 26 carries.
