No. 24 Houston escapes with victory over UTSA in 3 OTs

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Houston quarterback Clayton Tune leaped over a defender to score on a 13-yard run and the 24th-ranked Cougars escaped with 37-35 victory over UTSA in three overtimes Saturday.

Per NCAA rules for a third overtime, Tune’s winning run was a 2-point conversion. The Roadrunners were unable to match the score as their final pass floated out of bounds.

Houston rallied from a 14-point deficit in the second half at the Alamadome to snap UTSA’s 10-game home winning streak.

After Tune scored on a 1-yard run and threw for the 2-point conversion in the second overtime, Roadrunners quarterback Frank Harris matched the output by running in the conversion after tossing a touchdown pass to De’Corian Clark.

Houston dominated the final quarter, maintaining possession for 10 minutes, 30 seconds in driving 77 yards on 18 plays. The drive ended with Bubba Baxa kicking a 35-yard field goal with 26 seconds remaining for a 24-21 lead.

Houston wide receiver Nathaniel Dell (1) celebrates with teammate Joseph Manjack IV (18) after his touchdown catch during the second half of an NCAA college football game against UTSA, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in San Antonio.Eric Gay/AP

UTSA matched the feat in far less time, driving 55 yards in 23 seconds for a 37-yard field goal by Jared Sackett to force overtime.

Baxa and Sackett kicked matching field goals in the first overtime.

Harris completed 28 of 43 passes for 337 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 63 yards and a score.

Tune was 22 of 32 for 206 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 51 yards and a TD.

Cougars coach Dana Holgorsen expressed concerns over crowd noise being pumped into the stadium, which is forbidden by the NCAA and was vehemently denied by UTSA.

Houston running back Stacy Sneed (21) runs with the ball against UTSA during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in San Antonio.Eric Gay/AP

There was no need for artificial celebration as the Roadrunners put on a show for the 37,526 in attendance, the fifth-largest crowd in school history.

Houston and UTSA both averaged 30-plus points per game last season, but could not score in the opening quarter against the aggressive and physical play of the line and linebackers and a miscue.

The Cougars’ Nathaniel Dell returned a punt 74 yards for an apparent score midway through the second quarter, but it was nullified by a block-in-the-back penalty. The ensuing drive ended in a fumble recovered by Roadrunners linebacker Dadrian Taylor after Tune was stripped while fleeing the pocket.

Both offenses broke through in the second quarter with a series of big plays.

Houston wide receiver Matthew Golden (10) runs past UTSA linebacker Dadrian Taylor (7) after a catch during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in San Antonio.Eric Gay/AP

Dell converted his next scoring opportunity, tapping his left foot inbounds before falling out of the end zone to complete an 11-yard touchdown from Tune a minute into the second quarter.

UTSA responded on its ensuing possession, driving 65 yards in four plays punctuated by Joshua Cephus’ 51-yard touchdown reception from Frank Harris.

1of9Houston quarterback Clayton Tune (3) leaps over UTSA safety Kelechi Nwachuku (6) to score during overtime in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in San Antonio.Eric Gay/APShow MoreShow Less 2of9Houston quarterback Clayton Tune (3) calls for a first down during the second half of an NCAA college football game against UTSA , Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in San Antonio.Eric Gay/APShow MoreShow Less 3of9 4of9Houston coach Dana Holgorsen reacts to a call during the second half of the team’s NCAA college football game against UTSA on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in San Antonio.Eric Gay/APShow MoreShow Less 5of9Houston wide receiver Nathaniel Dell (1) runs for a first down after a reception against UTSA during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in San Antonio.Eric Gay/APShow MoreShow Less 6of9 7of9UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor, right, argues a call during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Houston, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in San Antonio.Eric Gay/APShow MoreShow Less 8of9Houston wide receiver Nathaniel Dell (1) is upended after making a touchdown catch against UTSA during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in San Antonio.Eric Gay/APShow MoreShow Less 9of9