[ad_1]
Conner Weigman threw for 222 yards and ran for 83 yards and two touchdowns — both career highs — to lead Houston over Colorado 36-20 on Friday night.
The Cougars (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) were up by 5 late in the third quarter when Dean Connors ran 18 yards to get them to the 1-yard line. Weigman scored on the next play to make it 26-14.
Blake Thompson intercepted Ryan Staub on the first play of the fourth quarter, but the Cougars couldn’t cash in on the mistake after Ethan Sanchez missed a 50-yard field goal attempt.
Houston forced a punt and Weigman made it 33-14 when he scored on a 7-yard run that was set up by a 54-yard pass to Stephon Johnson a play earlier.
Staub got his first start of the season. He served as the backup to Shedeur Sanders the past two seasons and entered the year as the third-string quarterback behind Kaidon Salter, who started the first two games, and heralded freshman Julian Lewis. Staub earned the start this week after throwing two touchdown passes in a 31-7 win over Delaware a week prior.
Staub was 19 of 35 for 204 yards and a touchdown, but couldn’t get much going in the second half as Colorado (1-2, 0-1) managed just six points after halftime and he was intercepted twice.
Houston led 13-0 early after scoring on its first three possessions. Colorado cut the lead to 13-7 when Simeon Price capped a 10-play, 93-yard drive with a 38-yard touchdown run with about 7 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter.
A field goal by the Cougars made it 16-7 with less than two minutes remaining in the first half. But the Buffaloes added a touchdown just before halftime to get within 16-14. Staub scrambled 19 yards but fumbled before he crossed the goal line and Zach Atkins jumped on the ball in the end zone for the score.
The Takeaway
Colorado: Head coach Deion Sanders must decide if Staub is the answer at quarterback or if he should give Lewis or Salter another shot.
Houston: Weigman has looked great in his first three games for the Cougars after a transfer from Texas A&M. He has thrown four touchdown passes without an interception and added three rushing scores.
Up Next
Colorado: Hosts Wyoming next Saturday.
Houston: The Cougars are off next week before visiting Oregon State on Sept. 26.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
What did you consider this story?
really useful
Get more from the College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
[ad_2]
