Weigman shines with career highs as Houston defeats Colorado 36-20

HOUSTON (AP) – University of Houston junior quarterback Conner Weigman threw for 222 yards and ran for 83 yards and two touchdowns – both career highs – to lead Houston over Colorado 36-20 inside TDECU Stadium on Friday night.

The Cougars (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) were up by five late in the third quarter when senior running back Dean Connors ran 18 yards to get them to the 1-yard line. Weigman scored on the next play to make it 26-14.

Senior defensive back Blake Thompson intercepted Ryan Staub on the first play of the fourth quarter, but the Cougars couldn't cash in on the mistake after junior kicker Ethan Sanchez missed a 50-yard field goal attempt, his lone miss in six tries on Friday night.

Houston forced a punt, and Weigman made it 33-14 when he scored on a 7-yard run that was set up by a 54-yard pass to senior wide receiver Stephon Johnson a play earlier.

Staub got his first start of the season. He served as the backup to Shedeur Sanders the past two seasons and entered the year as the third-string quarterback behind Kaidon Salter, who started the first two games, and heralded freshman Julian Lewis. Staub earned the start this week after throwing two touchdown passes in a 31-7 win over Delaware a week prior.

Staub was 19 of 35 for 204 yards and a touchdown, but couldn't get much going in the second half as Colorado (1-2, 0-1) managed just six points after halftime, and he was intercepted twice.

Houston led 13-0 early after scoring on its first three possessions. Colorado cut the lead to 13-7 when Simeon Price capped a 10-play, 93-yard drive with a 38-yard touchdown run with about 7 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter.

A field goal by the Cougars made it 16-7 with less than two minutes remaining in the first half. But the Buffaloes added a touchdown just before halftime to get within 16-14. Staub scrambled 19 yards but fumbled before he crossed the goal line and Zach Atkins jumped on the ball in the end zone for the score.

Colorado: Head coach Deion Sanders must decide if Staub is the answer at quarterback or if he should give Lewis or Salter another shot.

Houston: Weigman has looked great in his first three games for the Cougars after a transfer from Texas A&M. He has thrown four touchdown passes without an interception and added three rushing scores. The Cougars are 3-0 to start the season for the first time since 2016.

UP NEXT
Following their first bye weekend of the season, Houston returns to action when it meets Oregon State at 9:30 p.m. (CDT), Friday, Sept. 26, in Corvallis, Ore., in its final non-conference regular-season action.

From there, the Cougars continue their Big 12 schedule when they play host to Texas Tech on Saturday, Oct. 4, inside TDECU Stadium in Houston. Game time and broadcasting network for that game will be announced soon.

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