HOUSTON (AP) — Conner Weigman threw for 305 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another score, Re’Shaun Sanford II and Mekhi Hughes added rushing scores and No. 23 Houston beat Oregon State 33-20 on Saturday in the teams’ season opener.
Weigman completed 20 of 30 passes and tossed a 31-yard scoring pass to Amare Thomas in the first quarter. Weigman also scored on a 1-yard rush with five minutes left in the fourth, increasing Houston’s lead to 33-20.
Sanford had a 56-yard touchdown run with 6½ minutes left in the second quarter to put the Cougars up 16-7. Hughes added a 1-yard score with 6:40 remaining in the third to increase the lead to 26-7.
Thomas caught eight passes for 133 yards, and Hughes rushed for 98 yards for Houston, which outgained Oregon State 533 yards to 402.
Braden Atkinson finished 29 of 48 for 376 yards and a touchdown, and Jesse Legree caught five passes for 136 yards and a TD for the Beavers.
Trailing 26-7, Oregon State cut the lead to six on Legree’s 7-yard touchdown reception from Atkinson with 44 seconds left in the third and a 4-yard touchdown run by AJ Newberry with nine minutes remaining. But Weigman’s touchdown run sealed the win for Houston.
The takeaway
Oregon State: The Beavers had issues on third and fourth downs, going a combined 6 of 20 on the downs. … Oregon State was 3 for 3 in the red zone, and Atkinson connected with nine receivers.
Houston: The Cougars should at least maintain their No. 23 ranking in the AP poll. … Houston allowed 376 yards passing, but only 26 yards rushing and had four sacks.
Up next
Oregon State: Hosts Texas Tech on Saturday.
Houston: Hosts Southern on Saturday.
