Football Knocks Off #24/25 Arizona State on Saturday

TEMPE, Ariz. – University of Houston junior quarterback Conner Weigman threw for 201 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 111 yards and two more scores to lead the Cougars to a 24-16 win over #24/25 Arizona State inside Mountain America Stadium on Saturday night.

For the third straight game and the fourth time in the last five outings, Weigman was responsible for at least three touchdowns.

Houston jumped out to a 24-0 lead and never looked back in the first meeting against Arizona State since Dec. 1, 1990. Although the Sun Devils rallied to within one score, the Cougar defense held and turned the Sun Devils over on downs late and deep in ASU territory to ice the win.

Senior tight end Tanner Koziol was Weigman's leading target through the air, hauling in seven catches for 100 yards and a 7-yard touchdown catch midway through the third period that gave the Cougars a 17-0 lead.

Posting seven solo tackles and two pass breakups, senior defensive back Latrell McCutchin Sr. led a Houston defense which limited Arizona to 98 rushing yards. Senior defensive lineman Eddie Walls III posted five tackles, including three for a loss and added a pass breakup and quarterback hurry.

With the win, rv/rv Houston won its third straight game to improve to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in Big 12 play. The Cougars also earned their first road win over a ranked opponent since taking a 28-24 win at #17/14 South Florida on Oct. 29, 2017.

#24/25 Arizona State fell to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in league action.

Taking the opening kickoff, the Cougars marched 68 yards down the field and grabbed a 3-0 lead when senior kicker Ethan Sanchez booted a 26-yard field goal with 10:29 remaining in the opening period. It was the sixth straight game in which Sanchez drilled at least one field goal.

After Arizona State missed a field goal on its first possession of the game, the Cougars took over and grabbed a 10-0 lead when Weigman plunged into the end zone from one yard out. Senior running back Dean Connors converted a key third down with a 12-yard run, and the Cougars took advantage of a pair of Sun Devil penalties on third-and-goal at the 1-yard line to set up Weigman's score.

Forcing Arizona State into a three-and out on its first possession of the second half, the Cougars used six-play, 57-yard drive and grabbed a 17-0 advantage when Weigman connected with Koziol on a 7-yard touchdown strike in the back of the end zone.

The Sun Devils missed their second field goal of the night on their next possession. From there, the Cougars embarked on a 10-play, 75-yard drive that took nearly five minutes off the clock and was capped when Weigman drove into the end zone from one yard out for a 24-0 Houston lead with 1:06 in the third quarter.

Arizona State put its first mark on the scoreboard when quarterback Sam Leavitt connected with Cameron Harpole on a 3-yard touchdown pass to bring the Sun Devils to within 24-6 with 13:56 left in the fourth quarter.

Following a Houston punt, Arizona State kicker Jesus Gomez lifted a 47-yard field goal to move the Sun Devils to within 24-9 with 11:24 remaining in the game.

The Sun Devils closed to within 24-16 when quarterback Jeff Sims hit Chamon Metayer on a 27-yard touchdown pass with 5:12 left.

The Cougars were forced to punt on their ensuing possession but pinned the Sun Devils at their 5-yard line. On fourth-and-4, junior defensive back Kentrell Webb broke up a Jeff Sims pass to Derek Eusebio to seal the Houston win.

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt was hampered by injuries but threw for 270 yards and a touchdown on 18-of-35 passing, Malik McClain led the Sun Devils with seven receptions for 159 yards.

UP NEXT
Houston returns to TDECU Stadium to play host to West Virginia on Saturday, Nov. 1. Game time and broadcasting network for that game will be announced soon.

From there, the Cougars will face a short week before meeting UCF at 7 p.m. (CST) Friday, Nov. 7, inside Acrisure Bounce House in Orlando, Fla. That game will air on FS1.

All Houston Football games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app.

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