HOUSTON- The Cougars’ prolific quarterback bounced back after getting sacked on a potential tying 2-point conversion with 21 seconds left, to complete a 14-yard pass to James Cleveland and a 13-yarder to Tyron Carrier to set up Matt Hogan’s kick with just 3 seconds left. The Cougars (8-1, 4-1 Conference USA) rushed onto the field and hoisted Hogan into the air after he connected on the longest kick of his career. He hadn’t made a field goal of longer than 34 yards before his game-winner. Tulsa (4-5, 2-3) players splayed out on the field after suffering their fourth straight loss. Case Keenum finished with 522 yards on 40 for 60 passing with three touchdown passes. It was the second straight game with more than 500 yards passing for the nation’s most productive passer. “Our team believes in him,” Houston coach Kevin Sumlin said. Tanner Antle and Dexter McCoil stood up Bryce Beall on fourth-and-goal from the 1 to get the ball back, but Tulsa then went three and out. Keenum found Cleveland for a 19-yard pickup on third-and-20 on the next drive, and Sumlin settled for Hogan’s 26-yard field goal to get within 38-37 with 8:08 to play. Clay Sears jumped into the end zone from 1 yard out to put the Golden Hurricane ahead by eight in the final 3 1/2 minutes, but that only set the stage for Keenum and Hogan.Keenum led a 61-yard scoring drive, capped by his 1-yard TD throw to Cleveland, then tried to roll to his right to avoid the unblocked Antle. “I was pretty mad at myself after that play. I should have seen the blitz coming,” Keenum said, crediting his offensive line for picking up everyone they were supposed to block.
Tim Monroe recovered the onside kick, after it bounced off of McCoil. “At that point, you’ve just got to make one play at a time,” Keenum said. You’ve got to just keep leaving yourself a chance. Keep pressing forward and see what happens. “Matt made the biggest play of the game.”