All the attention was on the Houston Cougars and the Memphis Tigers in a huge American Athletic Conference game. While Memphis went up big early, Houston never considered themselves out of this game.
Memphis got the scoring going early in the game. On their first drive, they moved the ball 49 yards in four minutes and twenty eight seconds. The drive was capped off with a 41 yard field goal from Jake Elliott. However, the scoring was quiet for the rest of the quarter, as Memphis and Houston failed to get on the board after the first drive.
In the second quarter, the Tigers started to pull away from the Cougars. Quarterback Paxton Lynch found wideout Alan Cross open for a 38 yard touchdown catch, putting Memphis up 10-0. On Memphis’ ensuing drive, they drove 39 yards and finished it with another field goal, this time a 29 yarder from Elliott. As the quarter was drawing to a close, Memphis was back at it. Lynch gave the ball to Doroland Dorceus on a quick pass and he ran with it 61 yards for the score, making it 20-0 with two minutes left in the half. However, Houston was quick to respond as Kyle Postma, the backup quarterback, hit Linell Bonner for a 30 yard touchdown pass. The Cougars were now on the board, but still down 20-7.
On Houston’s touchdown drive, starting quarterback Greg Ward Jr. limped off the field with an ankle injury. Ward’s injury led to Postma coming on, who helped get the Cougars on the board.
Houston started off the second half on the right foot. Running back Kenneth Farrow got the ball from seven yards out and punched it in for the score, cutting the deficit to six. Memphis answered on the next drive, as Dorceus ran for a six yard score to extend their lead to 27-14.
Memphis would not let up on offense to start the fourth quarter, as running back Tevin Jones took a handoff 25 yards for a touchdown. Houston answered on the next drive with a ten yard touchdown rush from Farrow, making it 34-21. The Cougars continued to fight, as Javin Webb ran the ball in from the one yard line for a touchdown to make it 34-28 with six minutes left in the game. Following a Memphis three and out, Postma led Houston on a huge drive that was saved by a pass interference call and ended with a seven yard touchdown rush from Postma. Houston had a one point lead with under two minutes left in the game as a result of an incredible comeback. Memphis had a drive of their own as the clock was winding down and got the ball to the 35 yard line where they gave it to Elliott for a 48 yard field goal attempt. The kick went wide right, which secured the win for Houston.
Kyle Postma stepped up in a huge situation. As the backup quarterback, he was thrown into a top 25 matchup down 20-7. Postma threw for 236 yards, one touchdown, and ran for the game winning touchdown in a game where Houston seemed out of it at the half.
Houston moves to 10-0 on the season, remaining as one of the few undefeated teams in college football and improved their chances to play for the conference title. They play Connecticut on the road next week in another conference game, looking to 6-0 in conference play.
Memphis now falls to 8-2 as they drop their second straight game. The hard games continue for the Tigers as they now have to travel to Philadelphia to play Temple in a chance to get out of their slump.