Rally pulls Cougars from brink
Comeback ranks among biggest in program history
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Down 19 points in the fourth quarter, the University of Houston appeared on the way to another loss.
“I’m sure a lot of people turned (the TV) off,” coach Dana Holgorsen said. “Our guys just kept playing.”
A season on the brink of collapse received a jolt Friday night, as the Cougars stormed back for 26 fourth-quarter points to beat Memphis 33-32.
The Cougars enter the open week in the schedule at 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the American Athletic Conference.
Perhaps, most importantly, UH carries some much-needed momentum in the second half of the season. One victory does not solve all the Cougars’ problems, but for one night all the mistakes, late collapses and debilitating injuries seemed to vanish in a jovial locker room.
“This thing was going to go one way or another after this game,” Holgorsen said when asked if the win could be the spark to turn around the season. “Next week was about to be challenging sitting at 2-4 regardless of what the score was. It was going to be challenging. We were going to have to reassess a lot of things. Now we’ve got momentum.”
Here are five takeaways from Friday’s victory:
For the record books
The 19-point comeback is tied for the fifth largest in school history. The Cougars also rallied from 19 points to beat UTEP 42-37 in 2008. The other big comebacks for UH:
• 27 points against Louisiana Tech in 2011.
• 25 against Pittsburgh in the Armed Forces
Bowl in 2014.
• 21 against UCF in 2016.
• 20 against Memphis in 2015.
Welcome back Carter
Before his two fourthquarter touchdowns, KeSean Carter had been the forgotten man in the UH passing game. Through five games, Carter had only nine catches for 97 yards.
“KeSean is a guy we need to get the ball to,” Holgorsen said. “He’s a good player. He’s been struggling a little bit. He’s done a great job of hanging in there.”
With the game on the line, Carter caught a 13yard touchdown with 1:17 remaining and a 2-yard score with 18 seconds left.
“I’m so proud of that guy,” quarterback Clayton Tune said. “He’s been down a little bit lately because he hasn’t been getting as many targets or as many catches as he’d like or feels he deserves. Part of that is on me. I’m just proud of how he kept the faith. I told him his time was coming.”
After being held to one touchdown through the third quarter, Tune said the Cougars benefited from an up-tempo offense late in the game. Tune was 15-of-19 for 147 yards and three touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
“I felt like it kept the defense on their toes,” Tune said.
Sam Brown had nine catches for 116 yards and Nathaniel “Tank” Dell added 10 catches for 81 yards and a touchdown. The duo combined to be targeted 29 times.
Rogers provides spark
Jayce Rogers was informed earlier in the week that he could see action on kickoffs. Rogers made his first return of the season memorable — a 100-yarder that provided a spark in Friday’s win.
“We’ve just got to make a play,” Rogers said he told teammates before the return. “Hold your block as long as you can.”
UH has gone with Peyton Sawyer and Matthew Golden on kickoffs for most of the season. Rogers replaced Golden, who left the game with a back injury.
Defense closes deal
The defense has endured its share of criticism this season for late-game failures, including three blown leads in the final minute, and got off to another rough start Friday.
But UH took a bend-but-don’t-break approach and forced Memphis to settle for four field goals, including three inside the 20-yard line. And with the game on the line, Atlias Bell delivered a sack near midfield on the final play.
“At the beginning we came out rocky,” Rogers said. “The mood on the sideline was we’ve got to tighten up. We’ve got to at least give the offense a chance. We kept fighting until the end.”
Injuries and a new leg
The open week comes at a good time for the Cougars. Holgorsen said a few starters could be out with season-ending injuries, among them cornerback Alex Hogan, who suffered a left leg injury. Golden, a freshman wide receiver, also injured his back. Holgorsen did not have an update on his condition after the game. … Bubba Baxa missed a 21-yard field goal at the end of the first half, his third failed field goal in the last two weeks. He was replaced by Kyle Ramsey, who made a pair of extra-point attempts and was successful on UH’s onside kick that set up the gamewinning touchdown.