Texas Tech-Houston Thriller Comes Down to Inches on Dramatic 2-Point Conversion
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No. 13 Texas Tech survives No. 22 Houston, 28-26, after replay confirms Conner Weigman was stopped just short of tying the game.
Two yards separated Houston from overtime Friday night.
In the end, the Cougars couldn’t get the final few inches.
No. 13 Texas Tech survived a furious late charge from No. 22 Houston for a 28-26 victory in a Big 12 opener that wasn’t decided until a replay review confirmed Cougars quarterback Conner Weigman had been stopped just short of the goal line on a potential game-tying 2-point conversion.
It was a wild ending to one of the most entertaining games of the young college football season.
Houston took possession at its own 12-yard line with 2:46 remaining and Texas Tech leading 28-20. Weigman then directed a 10-play, 88-yard drive, finishing it with a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Patrick Overmyer with 49 seconds remaining.
That made it 28-26.
Houston needed two more yards.
After a clock issue delayed the conversion attempt and Texas Tech subsequently called timeout, Weigman took the snap and initially looked to throw. With the Red Raiders applying pressure, he scrambled to his left and lunged toward the goal line.
Texas Tech defenders converged.
Weigman extended the football.
And for a few moments, nobody knew whether Houston had tied the game.
The play provided a dramatic conclusion to a night filled with momentum swings.
Texas Tech Rallies From Early 10-0 Deficit
Officials ruled Weigman down just short of the goal line. Replay showed his knee hit the turf before the ball crossed the plane, and the ruling was upheld. Texas Tech had its victory.
Houston controlled the opening minutes and jumped ahead 10-0 after Texas Tech’s Tommy Castellanos was intercepted on the Red Raiders’ first offensive play.
Texas Tech eventually settled down behind quarterback Will Hammond.
Hammond connected with Kenny Johnson for a 35-yard touchdown early in the second quarter, and Castellanos later ran for another score as the Red Raiders briefly grabbed a 14-10 lead.
Houston answered before halftime when Weigman found Koby Young for a spectacular 46-yard touchdown, sending the Cougars into the locker room leading 17-14.
Texas Tech responded immediately after halftime.
J’Koby Williams scored on a 29-yard run to put the Red Raiders back in front, 21-17. Houston pulled within a point on a field goal before Cameron Dickey’s 1-yard touchdown run extended Texas Tech’s advantage to 28-20 with 7:36 remaining.
That set up Houston’s final charge.
Weigman finished 27 of 38 for 282 yards and three touchdowns, while Hammond completed 17 of 27 passes for 257 yards and a touchdown. Johnson led Texas Tech with four catches for 113 yards.
The victory improved Texas Tech to 3-0 and extended the Red Raiders’ home winning streak to 10 games. It was also their eighth consecutive victory over Houston.
But none of those numbers will be what most people remember about Friday night.
They’ll remember Weigman stretching the football toward the goal line with Houston’s comeback — and potentially overtime — hanging in the balance.
He needed only a few more inches.
Texas Tech didn’t give them to him.
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