Five hundred and thirty-three yards, and it still got uncomfortable
Houston opened its season Thursday night with a 33-20 win over Oregon State. The 23rd-ranked Cougars piled up 533 yards of offense. They still needed a one-yard sneak inside the final five minutes before anyone in the building could breathe easy.
Conner Weigman threw for 305 yards and had a hand in two touchdowns. He went 20 of 30 and gave one away on an interception. Amare Thomas was his favorite target: eight catches, 133 yards, a score, the best receiving line of the night. Makhi Hughes carried 17 times for 98 yards and found the end zone.
The first Houston possession of the year ended in points. Weigman hit Thomas from 31 yards out with 8:13 left in the opening quarter.
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Atkinson threw it 48 times and nearly stole the thing
Braden Atkinson would not go away. The Oregon State quarterback finished 29 of 48 for 376 yards and a touchdown, spreading the ball to nine different receivers. Freshman Jesse Legree pulled in five for 136 yards and a score.
The Beavers needed less than two minutes to answer Houston’s opening touchdown. Atkinson ran it in himself from three yards out. The extra point gave Oregon State a 7-6 lead it would not hold.
JaMarcus Shephard was making his debut as head coach. He walks away with a loss. His offense played all four quarters, which is more than some first nights produce.
26-7 was not the end of it
Jonathan Dimas kicked a 42-yarder to put Houston back in front for good. Re’Shaun Sanford II then broke a 56-yard run with 6:27 to play in the half, pushing it to 16-7. Dimas added three more from 32 yards and the Cougars went to the locker room up 19-7.
Hughes scored with 6:40 remaining in the third. 26-7. That should have settled it.
It didn’t. Atkinson closed an 89-yard drive with a seven-yard throw to Legree, then marched the Beavers 75 yards, AJ Newberry finishing from four out. With 9:02 on the clock Oregon State trailed by six. Weigman ended the argument with a one-yard plunge at 5:01.
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