Colorado’s offense stalled after halftime, and Houston capitalized, pulling away for a 36-20 victory Friday night.
The Cougars leaned on their running game and five field goals from kicker Ethan Sanchez to control the second half, while Colorado was limited to just six points after the break. Quarterback Ryan Staub threw two interceptions, the first turnovers of the Buffaloes’ season.
Houston jumped ahead 10-0 in the opening quarter behind Sanchez’s first field goal and a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Dean Connors, set up by a 49-yard scramble from quarterback Connor Weigman. Colorado’s offense produced only 45 total yards across three drives in the quarter.
The Cougars stretched their lead to 13-0 early in the second, aided by an overturned offensive pass interference call. Colorado responded with a 10-play, 93-yard drive capped by Simeon Price’s 38-yard touchdown run, the first of his collegiate career.
After another Sanchez field goal, Staub led Colorado’s best drive of the night in the two-minute drill, hitting Omarion Miller for 36 yards and Micah Welch for 25 before scrambling 19 yards toward the end zone. Staub fumbled before crossing the goal line, but tight end Zach Atkins recovered for the touchdown. Houston took a 16-14 lead into halftime.
The Cougars controlled the third quarter, holding the ball for nearly 13 minutes while Colorado ran just five plays for zero yards. Connors keyed a scoring drive with multiple chunk runs, and Weigman punched in a 1-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 26-14 entering the fourth.
Colorado’s offense faltered from there. Consecutive drops forced a punt, and Staub’s first interception set up Houston with a chance to seal the game. Though Sanchez missed one field goal attempt and the Cougars turned the ball over on downs, Colorado managed just 17 total yards in its first four second-half possessions.
The Buffs finally broke through with 4:41 remaining, when Staub scrambled for 29 yards on fourth down, drew a face mask penalty, and then connected with Joseph Williams for a 37-yard touchdown. The two-point try failed, and Houston recovered.
Sanchez converted his fifth field goal of the game with 3:38 to play, making it 36-20. Staub’s second interception, an overthrown pass intended for Williams with 1:46 left, ended any remaining comeback chance.
Houston improved to 3-0, its best start since 2016, while Colorado fell to 2-1. The Buffaloes return home Sept. 20 to face Wyoming. Houston travels to Oregon State on Sept. 26.
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