• UH ENDS THREE-GAME LOSING STREAK.
Cougars force four turnovers, including INT for go-ahead TD
TULSA, Okla. — On a chilly night at H.A. Chapman Stadium, the University of Houston enjoyed a warm and fuzzy feeling that had been missing for 34 days. A win.
The Cougars snapped a threegame losing streak with a defensive-inspired 24-14 victory over Tulsa on Saturday night.
“They should have fun,” UH coach Dana Holgorsen said just outside a music-amped celebratory locker room. “They should enjoy it. Winning is hard. The season is hard. This game is hard. This conference is hard.”
Damarion Williams returned an interception 25 yards for the go-ahead touchdown just before halftime as the Cougars won for the first time since Oct. 19 at Connecticut. Now 4-7 overall, the Cougars close out the season at home Saturday against Navy.
UH held Tulsa to 138 yards in the first half and forced four turnovers, including a pair of interceptions by Williams and Gervarrius Owens.
Tulsa (3-8) had only one serious offensive possession, a nineplay, 98-yard drive late in the third quarter. Even then it took TK Wilkerson four consecutive plays to score from the 1-yard line, pulling the Golden Hurricane within 17-14 to begin the fourth quarter.
What happened next encapsulated UH’s never-quit mentality through a season that has been derailed by injuries, inexperience, inconsistency and the decision of key senior starters to redshirt the season.
Marquez Stevenson, a former Louisiana track star, took the kickoff and ran 96 yards for a touchdown to push the lead back to 2414. It was the second kickoff return for a touchdown by Stevenson this season and the 50th nonoffensive TD by the Cougars since 2010, tied for first with Utah in FBS.
“Speedy had a look in his eye that I hadn’t seen,” Holgorsen said of Stevenson. “He was pretty frustrated with our inability to be able get him the ball on offense. He got his play on special teams.”
It was exactly the nudge the Cougars needed after second-half struggles on offense cost them in recent losses to Central Florida and Memphis.
Tulsa quarterback Zach Smith was 29-of-45 passing for 381 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. The Cougars dialed up the pressure throughout the game, with Isaiah Chambers recording two sacks and a forced fumble.
“Best I’ve seen the defensive line get pressure,” Holgorsen said.
Kelon Stokes had nine catches for 144 yards and Crawford added 10 catches for 102 yards.
Just how bad was it for Tulsa? Near midfield with about eight minutes left in the game, the Golden Hurricane were met with boos as they sent the punt team onto the field. Tulsa took a timeout and elected to go for it on fourth down. Smith’s pass fell incomplete.
UH was held to a season-low 231 yards and had just nine completions. Tune was 8-of-12 through the air for 89 yards and had 55 rushing yards.
On the Cougars’ second possession of the game, Tune completed a 15-yard screen pass to Porter. Porter fumbled and it was recovered by Allie Green IV. On the ensuing drive, Smith found a wideopen Sam Crawford Jr. for a 14yard TD and 7-0 Tulsa lead.
A 20-yard punt set up the Cougars with excellent field position at the Tulsa 35 early in the second quarter. Tune connected with Stevenson on back-to-back completions. Two plays later, Tune picked up a lead block from Patrick Carr for a 15-yard touchdown.
There was a scary moment just before halftime when Tune, who has battled hamstring and knee injuries this season, crashed to the turf after a hard hit as he stepped out of bounds. Tune was checked on the sideline and replaced by freshman walk-on Logan Holgorsen for two plays.
Williams broke the tie just before halftime when he intercepted a pass at the 25-yard line and scored. Williams had seven interceptions last season at Highland (Kan.) Community College, the most in the nation.
Dalton Witherspoon added a 23-yard field goal, his 13th in a row to match the school record set by Roman Anderson in 1988.