University of Houston
2-3 , 0-1
Tulane
4-0 , 1-0
Comeback Falls Short in Overtime Loss to Tulane
9/30/2022 9:45:00 PM | Football
Late drive sinks Houston as Green Wave hold off Cougars, 27-24
HOUSTON – Houston Football's fourth quarter rally came up short as Tulane drove the field late to force overtime, eventually taking down the Cougars 27-24 on Friday night in the American Athletic Conference opener from TDECU Stadium.
An early defensive showdown turned into an offensive shootout late as Houston (2-3, 0-1 The American) scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter before Tulane (4-1, 1-0 The American) drove 75 yards in 11 plays, tying the contest on a 3-yard touchdown reception and extra point.
Quarterback Clayton Tune passed for 208 yards on 22 of 33 passing alongside two touchdowns. Alongside his 56 rushing yards, Tune surpassed the 10,000-yard career total yards mark (10,023), becoming the fourth player in program history to accomplish the feat, joining Case Keenum (20,114 yards), Kevin Kolb (13,715 yards) and Greg Ward Jr. (11,080 yards).
Wide receiver Nathaniel Dell hauled in eight receptions for two touchdowns and 73 yards. Dell's two receiving touchdowns were the 19th and 20th since the start of the 2020 season which ranks tied for fifth nationally in that span.
The Cougars kept the scoreboard clean on Tulane's first possession of the game as defensive lineman Jamaree Caldwell got a hand on a Green Wave 21-yard field goal attempt to tip the ball wide. In the second quarter, Tulane's Kai Horton found Deuce Watts for a 13-yard touchdown to take a 7-0 lead.
On Tulane's next possession, defensive lineman Hakeem Ajijolaiya recovered a Horton fumble to set Houston up in enemy territory at the Green Wave 31-yard line. Six plays later, the Cougars converted on a 4th-and-goal at the 1-yard line as Tune hit Dell in the back of the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown pass.
In the third quarter with Tulane inside Houston territory, the Cougars forced a turnover on downs after a sack by defensive lineman Nelson Ceaser but four plays later, a fumble was recovered for a 57-yard touchdown return by Tulane's Jadon Canady to put the Green Wave up 14-7 midway through the third quarter.
In Houston's first possession of the fourth quarter, Tune extended a drive on a 3rd-and-4 with a 41-yard throw down field to wide receiver KeSean Carter to set up the Cougars inside the red zone. Three plays later, running back Brandon Campbell powered his way down the middle and into the end zone from 1-yard out to tie the game at 14-14.
After forcing a Green Wave three-and-out on the following drive, the Cougars drove 80 yards down the field on 10 plays capped off by a Tune 14-yard touchdown pass to Dell in the right corner of the end zone to give Houston its first lead of the game at 21-14 with 3:04 remaining.
In overtime, Houston regained the lead with a 36-yard field goal by kicker Bubba Baxa, but a 10-yard touchdown pass from Horton to Tyjae Spears on the following drive sealed the win for Tulane.
The Cougars will hit the road and face Memphis at 6:30 p.m. CT, Friday from the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
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Team Stats
TLN 7, HOU 0
TLN - Watts,Duece 13 yd pass from Horton,Kai (Esnard,Kriston kick) 5 plays, 63 yards, TOP 02:18
TLN 7, HOU 7
HOU - Dell,Nathaniel 1 yd pass from Tune,Clayton (Baxa,Bubba kick) 7 plays, 29 yards, TOP 03:28
TLN 14, HOU 7
TLN - Canady,Jadon 57 yd fumble recovery (Esnard,Kriston kick)
TLN 14, HOU 14
HOU - Campbell,Brandon 1 yd run (Baxa,Bubba kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:06
TLN 14, HOU 21
HOU - Dell,Nathaniel 14 yd pass from Tune,Clayton (Baxa,Bubba kick) 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 05:03
TLN 21, HOU 21
TLN - James,Tyrick 3 yd pass from Horton,Kai (Esnard,Kriston kick) 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:25
TLN 21, HOU 24
HOU - Baxa,Bubba 36 yd field goal 4 plays, 7 yards, TOP 00:00
TLN 27, HOU 24
TLN - Spears,Tyjae 10 yd pass from Horton,Kai () 2 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
