Just in case you were still wondering if the Houston Cougars were the real deal, the Coogs made a statement with the stunning upset of No. 3 Oklahoma in the Advocare Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium.
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Remains found in central Minnesota in recent days are that of Jacob Wetterling, an 11-year-old boy who was abducted in 1989, authorities said Saturday in an announcement that provided some long-awaited answers to a mystery.
“I hate to, I only have one quarterback, I don’t like to throw the player’s name (out), but at times Baker held on”, Stoops said.
Oddsmakers opened the Cougars as -35.5-point favorites versus the Sooners, while the game’s total opened at 180.5. Senior quarterback Greg Ward Jr, running essentially the same offensive scheme as Urban Meyers’ Buckeyes, threw for 321 yards and two touchdowns, thoroughly dismantling a historically strong Oklahoma defense. The Cougar front seven played like a championship unit, Baker Mayfield four times, and holding the vaunted OU ground game to just 77 yards on 30 carries. But Gundy said Davis’ return in 2013 caused him to put in coverage lanes for his field goal protection unit. Houston rallied to take a 13-10 lead, but Oklahoma ripped it right back on a 64-yard pitch-and-catch to a wiiiiiiide open Mark Andrews. Houston takes over at their own 36 with a two-point lead and not a nine-point advantage. If Seibert gets more on the kick, and it goes in, Oklahoma re-takes the lead 20-19. “We train to win”, Herman said. When my wife who’s never played a down of ball in her life asks me why they’re only throwing swing passes and bubble screens, somethings amiss.
(17) IOWA 45, MIAMI (OHIO) 21: Akrum Wadley ran for 121 yards and two touchdowns, LeShun Daniels added 83 yards rushing and two scores, and Iowa beat Miami (Ohio) at home. The pressure got worse and worse for Mayfield because they were consistently sending more guys than the Sooners had blockers, and on top of that Ed Oliver is a special talent who was tearing them up inside. Oklahoma tried to convert for two points, but Houston’s defense thwarted any attempt.
No doubt the Sooners defense played significantly better in the second half, but the Cougars also had a comfortable two-score margin for almost the whole final 30 minutes. “We have to find ways to help them, too”.
Throughout the offseason, Houston was regarded as the Group of Five team that could shock the college football world and on Saturday it started with a surprising 33-23 win against No. 3 Oklahoma.
With the Big 12 looking for expansion candidates, a win against their previous conference champion could bolster the Cougars’ petition for an invite.
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said the biggest disappointment from OU’s 33-23 loss to Houston was his team’s “overall execution”. As much as Houston made plays to win, the Sooners did plenty of things to lose.
But two plays after Wilson’s touchdown, he came up big again, recovering a fumble by Oklahoma wide receiver Jarvis Baxter to give the ball back to the Cougars.
Still, Ward tends be humble despite having accomplished such feats.
That allowed Houston to set the return, Herman said. “Steven is sore, but played through his injury and should be okay by the end of the week, we’ll see”. By the time he got finished romping 109-plus yards past a toothless, disorganized Oklahoma resistance, he had pushed Houston ahead by 26-17 and changed the contour of a big game and a national early season.
Trevor Knight, Texas A&M, 239 passing yards, one passing TD; two rushing TDs. The Cougars also need Louisville to keep winning before their November 17 meeting; a proven opponent (USF?) in the AAC title game would help, too.
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However, after winning one of their major games of the season, Herman addressed one more unit that contributed throughout the game: their fans. Houston’s athletes are too good, its scheme too creative, for them not to, and Oklahoma will nearly assuredly provide the stiffest test for Herman’s crew all year. “It definitely felt like a home game”. That’s why of all the compelling matchups in a great first weekend of the season, the stakes are highest in Houston.
