Hail Mary Lifts Football to First Big 12 Win vs. West Virginia

HOUSTON - In the historic first meeting between the two programs, the University of Houston Football team used a last-second Hail Mary to take down rv/rv West Virginia, 41-39, for the Cougars' first Big 12 Conference win.

The Cougars (3-3, 1-2 Big 12), down 39-35 with 12 seconds remaining, used a two-play, 57-yard drive capped by a 49-yard, tip-drill touchdown pass from junior quarterback Donovan Smith to sophomore wide receiver Stephon Johnson to seal the two-point victory over the Mountaineers (4-2, 2-1 Big 12).

Smith finished the game 21 for 27 for 253 yards and five total touchdowns (four passing, one rushing), marking his third career four-TD game. After starting with five completions on 11 attempts, Smith went a perfect 16 for 16 with all four touchdowns and 214 yards during the rest of the game.

Johnson tallied two touchdown catches, including the first of his Cougar career, on four receptions, narrowly missing out on his first 100-yard receiving game with 96 yards. Sophomore wide receivers Joseph Manjack IV and Samuel Brown caught the other two touchdowns for the Cougars.

Defensively, junior defensive back Isaiah Hamilton caught his third interception of the season while sophomore safety A.J. Haulcy tallied a season-best 15 tackles. Sophomore Matthew Golden continued to shine on special teams, recording his second kick return touchdown of the season, a 100-yard scramble in the first quarter.

Houston's offense found success against a West Virginia team that has stifled offenses this season. West Virginia entered Thursday ranked 23rd nationally in first downs defense. However, the Cougars offense put up 20 first downs, including 18 in the final three quarters. Houston's 41 points was the most allowed by the Mountaineers this season, a defense that ranked 30th nationally entering the day by allowing only an average of 19.0 points per game.

Pandemonium in Houston! #SCTop10 x @BoogieCO22 pic.twitter.com/bWAaylr4DA
— Houston Football (@UHCougarFB) October 13, 2023

The Cougars also continued to protect the ball well as the offense delivered zero turnovers for the fourth time this season. With Hamilton's interception, Houston has now also won the turnover battle in every game this season.

West Virginia got on the board first with a 27-yard field goal from Michael Hayes. Houston immediately responded with Golden's kick return touchdown. Golden becomes the eighth Cougar to return a kick for 100 yards and extended Houston's streak to three consecutive seasons with a 100-yard kick return TD.

The Mountaineers reclaimed the lead just before the end of the first quarter using a 5-yard rush by CJ Donaldson to assert a 10-7 lead, but the Cougars answered to take a lead going into the locker room as Smith scrambled for a 2-yard touchdown to go up 14-10 at the break.

Houston and West Virginia continued to trade blows in the second half. The Mountaineers scored first in the second half on a 35-yard pass from Garrett Greene to Traylon Ray. The Cougars fought back as Manjack caught his third touchdown of the season to put Houston back on top, 21-17.

West Virginia used a 1-yard Greene rush to score 54 seconds into the fourth quarter, but Houston rallied with Brown and Johnson catching TD passes to put the Cougars up by 11.

Trailing 35-24 with 7:28 remaining, West Virginia mounted a comeback and seemed to secure the win with a 50-yard touchdown catch by Hudson Clement with 12 seconds left that put the Mountaineers up 39-35. After an 18-yard return on the ensuing kickoff that was pushed back 15 yards due to a West Virginia unsportsmanlike penalty on its go-ahead score, Houston mounted the thrilling walk-off touchdown drive to snag the win.

The teams combined for 42 fourth-quarter points. Houston finished 3-of-3 in red zone opportunities in the game. After going 9 of 14 on red zone chances in its first three games, Houston has gone 10 of 11 in its last three contests.

UP NEXT
Houston remains at home next weekend to battle #9/#11 Texas at 3 p.m. Oct. 21 inside TDECU Stadium.

The Cougars will celebrate Heroes Night, honoring military and first responders.

The game will be broadcast on FOX and can be heard on 950 AM KPRC.

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