Saturday, September 9
Houston, Texas
6 p.m.
University of Houston
1-1 , 0-0
41
at
43
Rice
1-1 , 0-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
OT
OT
F
Houston
0
7
0
21
7
6
41
Rice
21
7
0
0
7
8
43
Photo by: Jordan Burgess/Houston Athletics
Cougars Drop Double Overtime Contest in Battle for Bayou Bucket
9/9/2023 8:59:00 PM | Football
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Valiant comeback falls short at Rice Stadium on Saturday
HOUSTON - After mounting a 28-point comeback to tie the game late in the fourth quarter, the University of Houston Football program was unable to hold off Rice in double overtime, falling 43-41 in the Bayou Bucket in Rice Stadium.
Trailing 28-0 late in the second quarter, the Cougars (1-1) rallied to tie the game at 28-28 on junior quarterback Donovan Smith's 1-yard touchdown run with just 15 seconds remaining in regulation.
Sophomore wide receiver Matthew Golden posted his second career multi-touchdown game, while fellow sophomore wide receiver Samuel Brown brought in nine passes for 138 yards, breaking the century threshold for a second consecutive game, to lead the Cougars on offense. Smith raced in for a trio of rushing touchdowns while also going 24 for 42 for 260 yards and two touchdowns in the passing game with sophomore running back Stacey Sneed scoring his first touchdown of the season to cap Houston's scoring.
Junior defensive back Isaiah Hamilton posted 1.5 tackles for a loss and first Houston forced fumble while also catching his eighth career interception to lead the Cougars' defensive effort.
After trailing by four scores with 2:43 left in the second quarter, the Cougars rallied for 28 unanswered points to close regulation and force overtime for just the second time in the history of the Bayou Bucket.
Golden started the scoring with a 10-yard reception from Smith to get Houston on the board, 28-7, with 2:42 remaining in the first half. The Cougars' defense kept it a three-score game heading into halftime as Hamilton leaped for an interception in the end zone with nine seconds on the clock.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Cougars rallied in the fourth. Starting a drive with a fumble recovery in the waning seconds of the third, Houston's Smith fought his way in with a 1-yard rush to cut the Cougars' deficit to 28-14 with 14:05 left in the fourth quarter. Sneed followed it up two drives later with a 14-yard rushing touchdown of his own to put Houston down by seven with 3:46 remaining.
The Cougar defense forced a three-and-out for Rice (1-1) on the ensuing possession, giving Houston a chance to tie it with 2:49 remaining in regulation. Smith and the offense rattled off a eight-play, 40-yard drive, capped by a 1-yard scramble by Smith, to tie the game with 15 seconds left.
Houston opened overtime by taking its first lead of the contest as Golden caught his second touchdown of the game on a 2-yard pass from Smith, but Rice forced a second extra period as Daelen Alexander scored on a 3-yard rush to even the score at 35-35.
Alexander scored again for the Owls to start the second OT frame and took it in himself for the two-point conversion to put Rice up 43-35 and put the game back into the Cougars' hands. While Smith rushed for his third TD of the game on Houston's 2OT possession, the Cougars failed on their two-point attempt to give Rice the win.
Rice started the scoring on the opening drive as Luke McCaffrey, younger brother of the San Francisco 49ers Luke McCaffrey, caught a 10-yard pass from JT Daniels.
The Owls extended their lead to 21-0 by the end of the first quarter as Alexander ran in for a one-yard touchdown, and McCaffrey found the end zone again on a 32-yard reception. Rice capped its regulation scoring with a 15-yard pass from Daniels to Braylen Walker to put the Owls up, 28-0.
UP NEXT
Houston returns to TDECU Stadium to play host to TCU at 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 16, in the Cougars' first Big 12 contest.
That game will air on FOX Sports and can be heard on 950 AM KPRC.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win in the Big 12. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN The 46ers and The HUDDLE
Fans are invited to join the 46ers and the Huddle to directly support Houston Football. Members provide financial support directly to Houston Football for needs beyond operating budget. For more information about the 46ers and the Huddle, call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4684) or click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarFB on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Cougar Football. Fans can also follow the team on Instagram at uhcougarfb.
Trailing 28-0 late in the second quarter, the Cougars (1-1) rallied to tie the game at 28-28 on junior quarterback Donovan Smith's 1-yard touchdown run with just 15 seconds remaining in regulation.
Sophomore wide receiver Matthew Golden posted his second career multi-touchdown game, while fellow sophomore wide receiver Samuel Brown brought in nine passes for 138 yards, breaking the century threshold for a second consecutive game, to lead the Cougars on offense. Smith raced in for a trio of rushing touchdowns while also going 24 for 42 for 260 yards and two touchdowns in the passing game with sophomore running back Stacey Sneed scoring his first touchdown of the season to cap Houston's scoring.
Junior defensive back Isaiah Hamilton posted 1.5 tackles for a loss and first Houston forced fumble while also catching his eighth career interception to lead the Cougars' defensive effort.
After trailing by four scores with 2:43 left in the second quarter, the Cougars rallied for 28 unanswered points to close regulation and force overtime for just the second time in the history of the Bayou Bucket.
Golden started the scoring with a 10-yard reception from Smith to get Houston on the board, 28-7, with 2:42 remaining in the first half. The Cougars' defense kept it a three-score game heading into halftime as Hamilton leaped for an interception in the end zone with nine seconds on the clock.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Cougars rallied in the fourth. Starting a drive with a fumble recovery in the waning seconds of the third, Houston's Smith fought his way in with a 1-yard rush to cut the Cougars' deficit to 28-14 with 14:05 left in the fourth quarter. Sneed followed it up two drives later with a 14-yard rushing touchdown of his own to put Houston down by seven with 3:46 remaining.
The Cougar defense forced a three-and-out for Rice (1-1) on the ensuing possession, giving Houston a chance to tie it with 2:49 remaining in regulation. Smith and the offense rattled off a eight-play, 40-yard drive, capped by a 1-yard scramble by Smith, to tie the game with 15 seconds left.
Houston opened overtime by taking its first lead of the contest as Golden caught his second touchdown of the game on a 2-yard pass from Smith, but Rice forced a second extra period as Daelen Alexander scored on a 3-yard rush to even the score at 35-35.
Alexander scored again for the Owls to start the second OT frame and took it in himself for the two-point conversion to put Rice up 43-35 and put the game back into the Cougars' hands. While Smith rushed for his third TD of the game on Houston's 2OT possession, the Cougars failed on their two-point attempt to give Rice the win.
Rice started the scoring on the opening drive as Luke McCaffrey, younger brother of the San Francisco 49ers Luke McCaffrey, caught a 10-yard pass from JT Daniels.
The Owls extended their lead to 21-0 by the end of the first quarter as Alexander ran in for a one-yard touchdown, and McCaffrey found the end zone again on a 32-yard reception. Rice capped its regulation scoring with a 15-yard pass from Daniels to Braylen Walker to put the Owls up, 28-0.
UP NEXT
Houston returns to TDECU Stadium to play host to TCU at 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 16, in the Cougars' first Big 12 contest.
That game will air on FOX Sports and can be heard on 950 AM KPRC.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win in the Big 12. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN The 46ers and The HUDDLE
Fans are invited to join the 46ers and the Huddle to directly support Houston Football. Members provide financial support directly to Houston Football for needs beyond operating budget. For more information about the 46ers and the Huddle, call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4684) or click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarFB on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Cougar Football. Fans can also follow the team on Instagram at uhcougarfb.
Team Stats
HOU
RIC
Total Yards
443
470
Pass Yards
260
401
Rushing Yards
183
69
Penalty Yards
44
38
1st Downs
27
24
3rd Downs
9
8
4th Downs
2
1
TOP
28:10
31:50
1st Quarter
HOU 0, RIC 7
RIC - McCaffrey,Luke 10 yd pass from Daniels,JT (Horn,Tim kick) 10 plays, 78 yards, TOP 04:44
HOU 0, RIC 14
RIC - Alexander,Daelen 1 yd run (Horn,Tim kick), 7 plays, 39 yards, TOP 04:08
HOU 0, RIC 21
RIC - McCaffrey,Luke 32 yd pass from Daniels,JT (Horn,Tim kick) 3 plays, 69 yards, TOP 00:50
2nd Quarter
HOU 0, RIC 28
RIC - Walker,Braylen 15 yd pass from Daniels,JT (Horn,Tim kick) 11 plays, 92 yards, TOP 06:14
HOU 7, RIC 28
HOU - Golden,Matthew 10 yd pass from Smith,Donovan (Martin,Jack kick) 11 plays, 74 yards, TOP 05:45
4th Quarter
HOU 14, RIC 28
HOU - Smith,Donovan 1 yd run (Martin,Jack kick), 6 plays, 64 yards, TOP 01:24
HOU 21, RIC 28
HOU - Sneed,Stacy 14 yd run (Martin,Jack kick), 6 plays, 71 yards, TOP 02:04
HOU 28, RIC 28
HOU - Smith,Donovan 1 yd run (Martin,Jack kick), 8 plays, 40 yards, TOP 02:34
OT Quarter
HOU 35, RIC 28
HOU - Golden,Matthew 2 yd pass from Smith,Donovan (Martin,Jack kick) 5 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
HOU 35, RIC 35
RIC - Alexander,Daelen 3 yd run (Horn,Tim kick), 5 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
OT Quarter
HOU 35, RIC 43
RIC - Alexander,Daelen 1 yd run (Alexander,Daelen rush), 4 plays, 25 yards, TOP 15:00
HOU 41, RIC 43
HOU - Smith,Donovan 2 yd run (), 5 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
24
TD
2
YDS
260
INT
1
CMP
0
TD
0
YDS
0
INT
0
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ FootballQB
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