University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
6-1 , 3-1
No. 25 Memphis
4-3 , 2-2
Houston Falls to No. 25 Memphis, 42-38
10/19/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 
HOUSTON - Houston Football let a 17-0 halftime lead slip away as No. 25 Memphis rallied to score 42 second-half points en route to a 42-38 win Thursday evening inside TDECU Stadium.
With the loss, the Cougars fell to 4-3 on the year and 2-2 in the American Athletic Conference, while Memphis improved to 6-1 and 3-1 in league play.
Houston quarterback Kyle Postma passed for a career-high 315 yards on a 29-for-40 effort with one touchdown. He also rushed for 49 yards on eight carries.
As an offensive unit, Houston produced 554 total yards of offense, a season-high.
Senior Dillon Birden became the second Cougar this season to rush for over 100 yards as the running back led Houston with a career-best 106 yards rushing on 21 attempts and one score.
Running back mate Duke Catalon added 65 yards on 22 carries with a career-high three rushing touchdowns to lead Houston in scoring.
Senior receiver Linell Bonner notched his sixth career 100+ yard receiving game, tallying 121 yards on eight catches. Bonner's performance was the third game this season with a 100-yard receiver.
Senior Steven Dunbar added eight receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, senior D'Juan Hines led the team with nine tackles. Sophomore Ed Oliver added six tackles, a season-high 2.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery - his first of the season. Garrett Davis notched his league-leading fourth interception of the year.
Houston jumped out to an early 17-0 lead with a late first-quarter touchdown, a 1-yard rush by Birden with 3:29 left in the opening set. Catalon then extended Houston's lead to 14-0 with a 4-yard run.
Kicker Caden Novikoff drilled a 30-yard field goal to send the Cougars into halftime, leading 17-0.
Memphis came out in the third and scored early with a 2-yard run. The Tigers chipped away, tallying three scores in the third quarter alone with Houston clinging to a 31-21 lead after three quarters. Catalon scored on a 1-yard run in that quarter.
Down 31-21 entering the fourth, Memphis made it a 31-28 game on a 1-yard touchdown run. Houston responded with a Dunbar touchdown following an 8-yard pass by Postma to make it a 38-28 game midway through the fourth.
It was all Memphis in the final six minutes of play as the Tigers capitalized on two scores, a 5-yard run and 21-yard pass to steal Houston's lead with 1:28 left.
Houston will return to action at USF on Saturday, Oct. 28. Kickoff is slated for 2:45 pm CT in Tampa, Fla.
Team Stats
MEM 0, HOU 7
HOU - BIRDEN, Dillon 1 yd run (NOVIKOFF, Caden kick), 5 plays, 28 yards, TOP 1:16
MEM 0, HOU 14
HOU - CATALON, Duke 4 yd run (NOVIKOFF, Caden kick), 15 plays, 94 yards, TOP 5:59
MEM 0, HOU 17
HOU - NOVIKOFF, Caden 30 yd field goal 4 plays, 3 yards, TOP 0:44
MEM 7, HOU 17
MEM - TAYLOR, Patrick 2 yd run (PATTERSON, R. kick), 8 plays, 64 yards, TOP 2:30
MEM 7, HOU 24
HOU - CATALON, Duke 1 yd run (NOVIKOFF, Caden kick), 13 plays, 80 yards, TOP 5:31
MEM 14, HOU 24
MEM - POLLARD, Tony 93 yd kickoff return (PATTERSON, R. kick)
MEM 14, HOU 31
HOU - CATALON, Duke 1 yd run (NOVIKOFF, Caden kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:26
MEM 21, HOU 31
MEM - TAYLOR, Patrick 9 yd run (PATTERSON, R. kick), 3 plays, 62 yards, TOP 1:01
MEM 28, HOU 31
MEM - TAYLOR, Patrick 1 yd run (PATTERSON, R. kick), 9 plays, 64 yards, TOP 1:41
MEM 28, HOU 38
HOU - DUNBAR, Steven 8 yd pass from POSTMA, Kyle (NOVIKOFF, Caden kick) 13 plays, 81 yards, TOP 4:20
MEM 35, HOU 38
MEM - TAYLOR, Patrick 5 yd run (PATTERSON, R. kick), 5 plays, 77 yards, TOP 1:30
MEM 42, HOU 38
MEM - DYKES, Sean 21 yd pass from FERGUSON, Riley (PATTERSON, R. kick) 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:49
