Cougars start season with disappointing 20 point loss to UNLV to spoil Willie Fritz’s debut
With two first half touchdowns and two interceptions, the Rebels rolled through the Cougars at TDECU Stadium.
UNLV scored a touchdown on their 2nd drive of the game that went quickly 75 yards down in the field in five plays. It was a 13 yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Matthew Sluka to senior wide receiver Jacob De Jesus.
The Cougars defense came up huge with a tough fourth and one stop at the UH 11 yard line to prevent another Rebels score. After another Houston punt, UNLV added another touchdown on a five play, 55 yard drive with a 24 yard touchdown reception. It was once again Sluka to DeJesus for the connection that made it 14-0.
Sophomore quarterback Zeon Chriss entered the game in the second quarter and burst off an 18 yard scramble. A targeting penalty on Rebels cornerback Jett Elad pushed the drive up to midfield. However, it was a loss of four yards on the quarterback draw on Chriss to force a punt.
After a couple of punts, UNLV drove 46 yards, but were unable to come up with any points as the 21 yard field goal attempt was blocked by senior defensive end Keith Cooper. However, Houston was unable to take advantage. Cooper added a sack to end the first half as UH was shutout 14-0 halfway through. Houston’s offense had less than 40 yards total.
The Rebels added to the lead in the second half with a 40 yard field goal which made it 17-0.
The Cougars defense forced an interception in the end zone on the next UNLV drive and junior cornerback AJ Haulcy returned it 48 yards.
UH’s offense continued to struggle as senior quarterback Donovan Smith threw a pick six on the resulting drive to senior safety Jalen Catalon, who returned it 36 yards for the 24-0 advantage. Houston had their longest play of the game, a 57 yard pass from Smith to junior wide receiver Mekhi Mews. The issues continued for the Cougars as the ultimate 42 yard field goal by senior kicker Jack Martin was no good wide left.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Smith threw his second interception of the game to Catalon. UNLV took advantage of great starting field position at the Houston 20 yard line with a 34 yard field goal which extended the lead to 27-0.
Houston avoided the shutout with a touchdown on a 90 yard drive in 12 plays at the end of the game. Backup sophomore quarterback Ui Ale went 7/8 for 78 yards and a two yard touchdown pass to junior wideout Joseph Manjack.
The Cougars ended up with only 38 rushing yards on 26 attempts and gave up six sacks. UH was also 2/15 on third down.
“Very disappointing, I thought we’d play better than that. Poor job coaching, poor job with my assistant head coaches and poor job playing, I didn’t see much good out there.” said Fritz postgame. “Offensively, boy, we had a hard time protecting. We had longer developing routes, we just couldn’t protect them very well. Unfortunate miscues.”
Throughout the season, Fritz preached “Coogs don’t beat the Coogs” but UH had 10 penalties in the game. Fritz hopes that was potentially part of it being week one. For him, it felt like a road environment as well with his first time coaching at TDECU Stadium.
“We just didn’t come out crisp and sharp, but we really worked hard and spent every second we possibly could so that we’d be prepared, but just didn’t do it,” said Fritz.
The Cougars will look to bounce back in a tough road game vs #16 Oklahoma, before returning home to face Rice.
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