Comeback keeps season dreams alive
SAN ANTONIO — Early in the fourth quarter Saturday, with the outcome still in doubt, Dana Holgorsen felt momentum beginning to shift for the University of Houston.
“They had that look in their eye like this game ain’t over,” Holgorsen said.
Two years ago, the Cougars entered the fourth quarter with a 26-21 lead over No. 13 BYU. UH eventually lost 43-26.
“They didn’t have the right look in their eye — and we did not finish,” Holgorsen recalled of the game played during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
“That was two years ago. This program is in a different place.”
If not for a fourthquarter turnaround and score after score in a tense-filled three overtimes, the Cougars’ lofty expectations for this season could have crumbled inside the Alamodome.
The final score: No. 24 Houston 37, UTSA 35.
“Survive,” Holgorsen summed up the season opener.
Survive playing most of the game without top running back Ta’Zhawn Henry, who was limited to eight carries with an ankle injury.
Survive 11 penalties, including six false starts, caused mostly by a raucous gathering of 37,526 intent on proving there was nothing artificial about the crowd noise.
Survive lapses in pass protection (four sacks), a handful of dropped passes and an illegal block to the back that wiped out a 74-yard punt return for a touchdown by Nathaniel Dell.
Survive busted assignments and miscommunication.
“There’s going to be first-game mistakes,” Holgorsen said. “I think we’ll be able to clean some things up and use this as a learning experience.”
Henry injury
Henry, who moved into the starting tailback role following a season-ending knee injury to Alton McCaskill, left the game on UH’s second drive in the first quarter. He returned briefly to begin the second half. Henry was limited to eight carries for 25 yards.
“The ankle was bothering him,” Holgorsen said.
Henry’s absence allowed the Cougars to get an extended look at Brandon Campbell, a transfer from USC, and Stacy Sneed, who had not played in his previous two seasons. Campbell had 15 carries for 49 yards, and Sneed finished with six carries for 15 yards.
“I don’t know what we would have got out of Brandon Campbell if that wouldn’t have happened,”
Holgorsen said. “I didn’t know what we were going to see out of Brandon. It looked pretty good to me. Those were hard yards.”
Holgorsen did not provide an update on Henry.
“Hopefully, Ta’Zhawn is OK,” he said.
Praise from Holgorsen
Holgorsen began his postgame press conference with a compliment for the UTSA crowd.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for UTSA,” he said.
Holgorsen took some criticism in the days leading up to the game, acknowledging in radio interviews “rumors” that UTSA pumped artificial noise into speakers at the Alamodome. UTSA officials vehemently denied the accusations.
One of the worst calls
Holgorsen voiced his displeasure on the illegal block to the back by UH defensive back Demarcus Griffin-Taylor that wiped out a 74-yard touchdown on a punt return by Dell.
“That return was exceptional,” Holgorsen said. “And one of the worst calls I’ve ever seen in my life. It was bad. Bad call. And it was five seconds late, and I don’t care if I get fined. We overcame it.”
Baxa comes through
Bubba Baxa emerged as the winner in a tight contest for the placekicking duties during preseason camp. Baxa was perfect on two field-goal attempts — both from 35 yards in the first and second OTs — and three extra-points.
Holgorsen said the kicking competition was “as extensive as I’ve ever been a part of ” between Baxa and Kyle Ramsey.
“It was a tight race,” Holgorsen said. “At the end of the day, you just kind of need to make a decision.”
Parish plays in cast
Defensive end Derek Parish played the game with a cast on his right hand. Parish underwent surgery Thursday to repair a broken bone in his ring finger. Weakside linebacker Mannie Nunnery did not make the trip due to a hand injury, but was expected back at practice Sunday.
Taking the odds
UH made the unusual move to take the ball first to begin overtime. But there were some calculations to the move. Data the past five years, a UH staffer said after the game, shows a higher success rate for the team that chooses to take the ball first.