University of Houston
1-0 , 1-0
Tulane
2-2 , 0-2
Houston Erases Deficit for Season-Opening Win
10/8/2020 10:47:00 PM | Football
Cougars rally from 24-7 down in second quarter
Houston's 49 points were the most by a Cougar team under Head Coach Dana Holgorsen. The 17-point deficit is tied for the sixth-largest that a Houston squad has erased in program history and its largest come-from-behind victory since Oct. 29, 2016 against UCF.
Senior quarterback Clayton Tune completed 20-of-33 passes for 319 yards, finishing with two passing touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Marquez Stevenson became the 14th Cougar to rack up 2,000 career receiving yards, finishing the game with five catches for 118 yards. The Shreveport, La., native also set a TDECU Stadium record with a 97-yard kickoff return touchdown after the Green Wave took a 31-28 lead late in the third quarter.
On the defensive end, senior linebacker Grant Stuard led Houston with nine total tackles. Senior defensive lineman Payton Turner was a force for the Cougars, recording two sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss. The Green Wave converted only four of its 16 third-down conversions, while its 211 total offense yards were the fewest Houston allowed since Oct. 29, 2016 against UCF (195 yards).
Turnovers plagued the Cougars in the first half resulting in three first-quarter touchdowns for Tulane. Houston found its rhythm, scoring three touchdowns of its own starting with a quarterback sneak into the end zone from Tune to cap a 75-yard drive for the Cougars.
One drive later, redshirt freshman Ke'Andre Street found the back of the end zone for his first career touchdown, pulling down a 23-yard pass from Tune.
The third quarter was highlighted by three Houston touchdowns, two of which went unanswered, as senior running backs Kyle Porter and Mulbah Car, along with Stevenson ignited the Cougar ground game. Car lifted Houston to its first lead of the night with 7:53 to play in the third quarter, rushing three yards into the end zone for his second score of the night.
Tulane scored on the next drive, but the Cougars used three unanswered trips into the end zone, including a 97-yard kickoff return from Stevenson, to take the lead for good.
Team Stats
TULANE 7, HOU 0
TULANE - Clark,M. 64 yd interception (Glover,M. kick)
TULANE 7, HOU 7
HOU - CAR, Mulbah 5 yd run (WITHERSPOON, Da kick), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:35
TULANE 14, HOU 7
TULANE - Johnson,J. 1 yd fumble recovery (Glover,M. kick)
TULANE 17, HOU 7
TULANE - Glover,M. 39 yd field goal 10 plays, 36 yards, TOP 4:43
TULANE 24, HOU 7
TULANE - Pratt,M. 1 yd run (Glover,M. kick), 9 plays, 50 yards, TOP 4:26
TULANE 24, HOU 14
HOU - TUNE, Clayton 1 yd run (WITHERSPOON, Da kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:03
TULANE 24, HOU 21
HOU - STREET, Ke'Andr 23 yd pass from TUNE, Clayton (WITHERSPOON, Da kick) 11 plays, 68 yards, TOP 3:48
TULANE 24, HOU 28
HOU - CAR, Mulbah 3 yd run (WITHERSPOON, Da kick), 10 plays, 57 yards, TOP 5:09
TULANE 31, HOU 28
TULANE - Jackson,Jh. 8 yd pass from Pratt,M. (Glover,M. kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:00
TULANE 31, HOU 35
HOU - STEVENSON, Marq 97 yd kickoff return (WITHERSPOON, Da kick)
TULANE 31, HOU 42
HOU - PORTER, Kyle 1 yd run (WITHERSPOON, Da kick), 8 plays, 60 yards, TOP 3:21
TULANE 31, HOU 49
HOU - STEVENSON, Marq 41 yd pass from TUNE, Clayton (WITHERSPOON, Da kick) 2 plays, 43 yards, TOP 0:38
