Ethan Sanchez booted a 24-yard field goal in overtime and Houston improved to 4-0 for the first time since 2016 after rallying for a 27-24 victory over Oregon State in nonconference play on Friday night at Corvallis, Ore.
Conner Weigman completed 20 of 36 passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns and one interception and also rushed for a score as Houston overcame a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit.
Oregon State never trailed until Sanchez’s kick went through the uprights as it fell to 0-5 for the first time since 1996.
Amare Thomas had six catches for 104 yards, Tanner Koziol caught six passes for 86 yards and a score and Stephon Johnson caught a touchdown pass for the Cougars.
Cornell Hatcher Jr. rushed for 93 yards and one touchdown for Oregon State. Maalik Murphy connected on 20 of 33 passes for 201 yards and tossed a touchdown pass to Marquis Crosby. Jake Reichle added a rushing score, and Trent Walker caught seven passes for 103 yards.
The Beavers had the opening possession of overtime and came up empty when Hatcher was stuffed on fourth-and-1 from the Houston 16-yard line.
The Cougars then set up Sanchez for the easy field goal, his second of the night.
The Beavers had a chance to win at the end of regulation, but Cameron Smith’s 46-yard field-goal attempt was blocked by Marc Stampley II.
Houston went three-and-out on each of its first four second-half possessions before igniting on a drive that began with 8:17 left in the game. Weigman opened the seven-play, 76-yard drive with a 13-yard completion to Thomas for the Cougars’ initial first down of the half.
A short time later, Weigman tossed a 27-yard touchdown pass to Johnson to bring Houston within 24-17 with 5:59 remaining.
When the Cougars next had the ball, they needed just four plays and 51 seconds as Koziol caught a pass at the Oregon State 35 while shedding a defender and finished off a 50-yard scoring play to tie the score.
The Beavers held a 17-10 lead after Caleb Ojeda kicked a 31-yard field goal with 5:31 left in the third quarter.
Hatcher raced 18 yards for a 14-point lead with 12:34 remaining in the game.
The Beavers’ first score came after Trey Glasper intercepted Weigman and returned it 25 yards to the Cougars’ 7. Two plays later, Reichle plunged in from the 1.
Early in the second quarter, Murphy threw a 5-yard scoring pass to Crosby to make it 14-0.
Houston rebounded on Sanchez’s 25-yard field goal and Weigman’s 1-yard scoring run before halftime.
–Field Level Media
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