University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
1-0
Arizona
1-1
Houston Wins at Arizona, 19-16
9/10/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
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TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Houston quarterback Kyle Allen threw for 225 yards and a touchdown and the defense made a few late stops, including a fourth-quarter interception by Garrett Davis as the Cougars held off Arizona, 19-16, in its 2017 opener on Saturday.
Houston (1-0) gave Major Applewhite his first victory as head coach after the scheduled opener at UTSA was cancelled due to Hurricane Harvey.
John Leday's 81-yard kickoff return set up Houston's go-ahead touchdown with 45 seconds left in the first half.
Arizona's Josh Pollack kicked three field goals for Arizona (1-1), the last, from 42, yards cut the lead to 19-16 with 8:32 to play.
Khalil Tate replaced Arizona quarterback Brandon Dawkins early in the fourth quarter and the Wildcats were at the Houston 32 when Garrett Davis' interception with 3:49 remaining preserved the win.
Dawkins, who returned for the final three minutes, fumbled the ball away twice, one for a safety, in the second half.
Allen started 14 games and played in 20 for Texas A&M before transferring to Houston. He sat out last season as a redshirt.
Allen, who completed 25-of-32 passes, threw 49 yards to Keith Corbin to set up his first TD pass as a Cougar, five yards to Linell Bonner to put Houston up 10-3 with five minutes left in the half.
Arizona, helped by a pass interference penalty in the end zone, tied it 10-10 on Zach Green's 1-yard run 2:22 before halftime.
Leday took the subsequent kickoff and the last man who had a chance to stop him, Kwesi Mashack, tackled him at the Wildcats 16. Dillon Birden's 3-yard touchdown run with 45 seconds gave Houston its 17-10 halftime lead.
UP NEXT
Houston: The Cougars play their home opener next Saturday against Rice.
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Team Stats
HOU 3, ARIZ 0
HOU - NOVIKOFF, Caden 25 yd field goal 9 plays, 55 yards, TOP 2:24
HOU 3, ARIZ 3
ARIZ - Pollack, J. 45 yd field goal 12 plays, 52 yards, TOP 4:25
HOU 10, ARIZ 3
HOU - BONNER, Linell 5 yd pass from ALLEN, Kyle (NOVIKOFF, Caden kick) 8 plays, 100 yards, TOP 3:26
HOU 10, ARIZ 10
ARIZ - Green, Z. 1 yd run (Pollack, J. kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:38
HOU 17, ARIZ 10
HOU - BIRDEN, Dillon 3 yd run (NOVIKOFF, Caden kick), 4 plays, 16 yards, TOP 1:23
HOU 19, ARIZ 10
HOU - Team 3 yd safety
HOU 19, ARIZ 13
ARIZ - Pollack, J. 21 yd field goal 16 plays, 82 yards, TOP 6:22
HOU 19, ARIZ 16
ARIZ - Pollack, J. 42 yd field goal 10 plays, 30 yards, TOP 4:05
