Football Storms Previous Rice to Retain Bayou Bucket

HOUSTON – University of Houston senior operating again Dean Connors rushed for 132 yards with a pair of touchdowns to steer the Cougars to a 35-9 win over Rice inside Rice Stadium through the Bayou Bucket Classic on Saturday evening.
 
Connors, who transferred to Houston from Rice within the offseason, collected the Cougars’ first 100-yard speeding sport of the season on solely 13 carries. The Kamuela, Hawai’i, native gave Houston the lead for good with a 54-yard landing run late within the first half and capped the scoring with a 42-yard landing run through the last 4 minutes of the sport.
 
He recorded the sixth 100-yard speeding sport and the second highest speeding complete of his profession along with his efficiency. It was Conner’s first triple-digit efficiency since posting 105 yards and two touchdowns with the Owls towards Navy on Nov. 2, 2024.
 
Houston overcame a gradual begin offensively to rack up 378 yards of complete offense, with 188 by the air and 190 on the bottom. Junior quarterback Conner Weigman posted 188 passing yards and a landing on 15-of-22 makes an attempt and scored the Cougars’ second landing of the evening halfway by the third quarter on a 9-yard run.
 
Meanwhile, the Cougar protection held its second straight opponent beneath double-digit factors to open the season and compelled two turnovers whereas limiting the Owls to solely 51 yards on 11-of-13 passing.
 
Senior defensive again Latrell McCutchin Sr. led Houston with 11 tackles, together with six solo stops, whereas senior defensive lineman Carlos Allen posted 9 tackles, together with three solo.
 
With the win, Houston improved to 2-0 whereas Rice fell to 1-1.
 
The Cougars additionally received their second straight towards Rice and for the ninth time within the final 10 conferences towards the Owls. Only a double-overtime loss in Rice Stadium in 2023 prevents an extended streak.
 
After each groups performed to a scoreless first quarter, Rice took the lead on Enock Gota’s 42-yard area aim with 9:20 remaining within the first half.
 
Forcing a Rice punt late, the Cougars took over on their 26-yard line with simply 75 seconds left within the opening half. Facing 2^nd-and-15 from the Houston 21, Weigman linked with senior tight finish Tanner Koziol on a 21-yard stroke for a primary down.
 
Three performs later, Connors burst by the road and outran all Rice defenders 54 yards to the tip zone for a 7-3 Cougar lead.
 
After forcing Rice to punt on its opening possession of the second half, Weigman led the Cougars on a 15-play, 76-yard drive that took practically seven minutes of the clock and was capped on his 9-yard landing plunge for a 14-3 Houston lead.
 
Houston’s protection put its mark on the scoreboard on the Cougars’ subsequent play from scrimmage. Dropping again to go, Rice quarterback Chase Jenkins’ go was deflected by junior defensive lineman Latrevion McCutchin into the arms of sophomore cornerback Will James, who sprinted down the Houston sideline 37 yards to provide the Cougars a 21-3 lead with 14:53 left within the sport.
 
Rice pulled to inside 21-9 when Jenkins rushed into the tip zone from two yards out with 9:02 left within the sport, however the Cougar protection stiffened and halted the Owls’ 2-point conversion.
 
The Cougars shortly struck once more to develop their lead as Weigman hit senior huge receiver Stephon Johnson on a 74-yard landing go with 8:20 remaining for a 28-9 benefit.
 
The rating remained that manner till Connors burst by the road for his second speeding rating of the sport with 3:40 left on the clock.
 
UP NEXT
Houston returns to the pleasant confines of TDECU Stadium when it opens Big 12 Conference play towards Colorado at 6:30 p.m., Friday.
 
From there, the Cougars will get pleasure from their first bye weekend of the season earlier than assembly Oregon State at 9:30 p.m. (CDT), Friday, Sept. 26, in Corvallis, Ore., of their last non-conference regular-season motion.
 
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