The Houston Cougars get set to welcome in the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday for their homecoming game and their fourth conference matchup of the season after a commanding blowout victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Last time out, the Coogs were dominant on the road, defeating the struggling Cowboys squad 39-17. On Saturday against the Wildcats, the matchup should be a lot more challenging with Arizona heading into TDECU Stadium with a 4-2 record, with their two losses coming against ranked opponents.
Arizona, on the other hand, looks to get back on track after suffering its second defeat of the season and its second conference loss of the year after falling in double overtime to a ranked BYU Cougars team.
Houston Cougars quarterback Conner Weigman (1) throws a pass during a college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) and the Houston Cougars / BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Leading the charge for the Cougars is quarterback Conner Weigman, who had his best performance in a red and white uniform last weekend. After finishing the game against Oklahoma State, 21 of 30 passing for 306 yards, two touchdown passes, and without an interception, while adding another score on the ground.
Coogs wide receiver Amare Thomas has begun establishing himself as the top weapon in the Cougars’ offense and a go-to guy for Weigman. Against the Cowboys, the pair connected numerous times, with Thomas finishing the game with seven receptions for 157 yards and multiple deep completions, with the longest going for 43 yards, and Thomas having an average yards per completion of 22.4.
As for the Wildcats’ offense, everything runs through standout quarterback Noah Fifita, who finished last week’s loss going 25 of 45 passing for two touchdowns and an interception. Defending Fifita should be no easy task for the Cougars’ defense as the quarterback has completed 131 of his 209 pass attempts for 1,560 yards, 15 passing touchdowns to just four interceptions, while also showing off his dual-threat ability with two rushing touchdowns through six games.
The toughest battle for the Cougars will be found in the air on both sides of the ball, with the Wildcats having their strength both in their passing defense and attack. Arizona’s passing defense is the better of the two, allowing the fewest passing yards per game in the entire conference while also leading the Big 12 in interceptions.
The passing attack is not too far behind, averaging the fourth-most passing yards per game in the conference with 275 yards a game and recording 15 passing touchdowns, which has the Arizona offense in the upper half of the conference.
The game is set to kick off at 11:00 AM from TDECU Stadium, and be sure to check right back here for live updates as the action unfolds.
Houston has won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Arizona will receive the opening kick, and the Coogs will start on defense.
Arizona strikes quickly, Noah Fifita buys time in the pocket, and finds wide receiver Tre Spivey for a 70-yard catch and run for a touchdown on the opening drive of the game. Extra point was good.
Arizona 7, Houston 0
change of possession
Houston answers right back, needing just four plays to travel 75 yards. Conner Weigman connects with wide receiver Amare Thomas for a 52-yard touchdown. Ethan Sanchez’s extra point was good.
Arizona 7, Houston 7
change of possession
After two quick-hitting drives to open the game, the Wildcats put together a long 11-play 73-yard scoring drive as Fifita’s second passing touchdown of the game to Luke Wysong for the score. Extra point was good.
Arizona 14, Houston 7
change of possession
Houston’s offense gets stopped on its second drive of the game. Weigman is pressured heavily on third down and can’t connect with tight end Tanner Koziol to move the chains. The Cougars are forced to punt.
change of possession
The Houston defense stops the Wildcats for the first time in the ball game. Arizona is forced to punt after their third drive of the game stalls following a holding penalty.
change of possession
After their first stop of the game, the Coogs don’t get much going on the offensive side of the ball and will be forced to punt the ball.
change of possession
The Coogs sack Fifita on back-to-back plays to derail the drive and force the punt.
change of possession
The Cougars get back in the end zone after a long 13-play 96-yard touchdown drive that started all the way back on their four-yard line. After a fourth down pick up with Weigman finding running back Dean Conners for a 33-yard gain, it set up the Cougars in the red zone with Weigman punching it in on the ground from 10 yards out one play later. Extra point is good.
Houston 14, Arizona 14
change of possession
After the two-minute break, the Coogs get a big fourth down stop to force a turnover on downs and will have a little over a minute left in the second quarter.
change of possession
Houston drives the ball quickly down the field in nine plays for 69 yards in just 1:20 minutes for a score right before halftime. Weigman throws a dart to Koziol from 15 yards out for a touchdown, and the Coogs take the lead right before the end of the second quarter. Extra point is good.
Houston 21, Arizona 14
change of possession
Arizona looked to take one final shot with the final play of the half, which did not go as planned with Coogs’ defensive linemen Carlos Allen Jr. sacking Fifita to head into the locker room.
Houston comes out swinging after the halftime break with a long nine-minute 17 17-play 75-yard touchdown drive capped off with Weigman escaping to the right side of the pocket and finding Thomas in the back of the end zone for the touchdown. Sanchez’s extra point is good.
Houston 28, Arizona 14
change of possession
The Wildcats respond with a long scoring drive of their own, taking over six minutes to go 75 yards in 13 plays with Spivey scoring on a jet sweep for the rushing touchdown and cutting into the Houston lead. Extra point was successful.
Houston 28, Arizona 21
change of possession
Houston’s drive stalls once getting into the Wildcats’ territory, having to settle for a field goal. Sanchez’s 48-yard attempt was no good, falling just short.
change of possession
For the second time in the quarter, the Wildcats find the end zone and tie up the matchup at 28 apiece. Arizona drives 10 plays 70 yards in nearly seven minutes, capped off by running back Kedrick Reescano punching it in from two yards out. Extra point was good.
Houston 28, Arizona 28
change of possession
With the final possession of the game, the Coogs are able to march the ball into Wildcats territory, setting up Sanchez to hit a walk-off 41-yard field goal for the victory.
Final: Houston 31, Arizona 28