Houston Falls in Season Opener at #4 Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla. – University of Houston senior quarterback D'Eriq King threw for 167 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for a team-high 103 yards with a touchdown, but it would not be enough as No. 4 Oklahoma handed the Cougars a 49-31 loss at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Sunday evening.

OU quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns on 20-of-23 passing and rushed for 176 yards and three more scores to lead the Sooners (1-0). Oklahoma jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the game's first 23 minutes and never looked back.

Senior running back Mulbah Car finished with 76 rushing yards on only nine carries and added a 7-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter for the Cougars (0-1). Junior receiver Marquez Stevenson led the Cougars through the air with seven receptions for 80 yards with a 4-yard touchdown catch midway through the final period.

Junior safety Grant Stuard led the Cougar defenders with a career-high 14 tackles, including nine solo stops. Making his Houston debut, safety Gervarrious Owens added seven tackles with five solo stops.

Oklahoma put the game's first points on the scoreboard after forcing the Cougars to punt on the game's first possession. Hurts connected with Jeremiah Hall on a 14-yard strike to give the Sooners a 7-0 lead with 12:21 left in the opening period.

Following a Houston punt, the Sooners drove to the Cougars' 1 and pushed their lead to 14-0 on Hurts' 1-yard plunge into the end zone.

Oklahoma moved to 21-0 when Hurts hit CeeDee Lamb on a 45-yard touchdown with 8:09 left in the first half.

On the ensuing drive, King led the Cougars on a 6-play, 81-yard drive, which was capped by his 23-yard touchdown pass to junior running back Kyle Porter, who made his Houston debut Sunday.

After forcing the Sooners to punt on their next possession, Houston moved to within 21-10 following junior kicker Dalton Witherspoon's 34-yard field goal, his fifth straight field goal made dating back to 2018.

Oklahoma grabbed a 28-10 advantage early in the second half after Hurts hit Charleston Rambo on a 56-yard touchdown pass with 12:38 left in the third quarter.

Hurts' 3-yard touchdown run with 7:47 left in the third quarter gave Oklahoma a 35-10 lead.

The Cougars refused to go quietly and cut the deficit to 35-17 when senior running back Mulbah Car rumbled into the end zone from seven yards out with 3:03 remaining in the third quarter. Car led the 12-play, 87-yard drive with 28 yards on four carries.

Hurts gave Oklahoma a 42-17 lead with a 1-yard touchdown plunge on the final play of the third quarter.

Facing fourth-and-goal midway through the fourth quarter, King connected with junior receiver Marquez Stevenson on a 4-yard touchdown to pull Houston to within 42-24.

King enjoyed his lone rushing touchdown of the night with a 1-yard scamper into the end zone with 2:11 left in the game.

Oklahoma running back Rhamondre Stevenson raced into the end zone from 21 yards out with 1:17 left for the final margin of victory.

UP NEXT
The Cougars return to action and open their home schedule inside TDECU Stadium when they play host to Prairie View A&M at 7 p.m., Saturday. It will be the first time the Cougars have faced the Panthers on the gridiron.

Tickets are available by visiting UHCougars.com/tickets and following the appropriate links or by calling the Athletics Ticket Office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

– UHCougars.com –

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D'Eriq King

Players Mentioned

Mulbah Car

D'Eriq King

Kyle Porter

Marquez Stevenson

Grant Stuard

Dalton Witherspoon

Players Mentioned

Mulbah Car

D'Eriq King

Kyle Porter

Marquez Stevenson

Grant Stuard

Dalton Witherspoon

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