HOUSTON — As the clock wound down, Jack Martin made a decisive 43-yard field goal, securing a thrilling 17-14 victory for Houston against Utah on Saturday night.

With just 1:55 left on the clock, A.J. Haulcy intercepted a pass from Brandon Rose, positioning Houston at their own 46-yard line. The Cougars then executed a series of eight consecutive running plays, driving down to the Utah 25-yard line, setting the stage for Martin’s game-winning field goal.

Quarterback Zeon Chriss had an efficient performance, completing 6 of 13 passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 45 yards for Houston (3-5, 2-3 Big 12). Stephon Johnson found the end zone with a 21-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter, and Joseph Manjack IV added another touchdown on a 28-yard pass with just nine minutes remaining in the final quarter.

For the Cougars, J’Marion Burnette led the ground game with 81 rushing yards, and Re’Shaun Sanford II contributed 72 yards, aiding the team in totaling 228 rushing yards.

On the other side, Utah’s Isaac Wilson completed 13 of 22 passes for 171 yards with one touchdown before being replaced by Rose midway through the third quarter. Rose stepped in and managed to complete 7 of 15 passes for 45 yards. The Utes (4-4, 1-4) suffered their fourth consecutive loss despite a strong start.

Prolific receiver Brant Kuithe was a key player for Utah, catching five passes for 113 yards, including a stunning 71-yard touchdown on the team’s second play.

Micah Bernard also contributed to Utah’s efforts by rushing for 51 yards, capped off by a 14-yard touchdown that gave the Utes a temporary 14-7 lead late in the third quarter.

This matchup marked the debut of Utah’s interim offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian, who took over after Andy Ludwig’s departure earlier this week. In terms of total yardage, Utah slightly outperformed Houston, finishing with 306 yards to Houston’s 289.

### Key Insights

For Utah, the defense demonstrated resilience, limiting Houston to a mere 3 of 15 on third downs. They entered the game with an impressive statistic, allowing only 26% of opponents’ third-down conversions, ranking fifth nationally.

Conversely, Houston’s offense continued to face challenges, particularly in red-zone situations. The Cougars had four opportunities to score from the 1-yard line—twice each in the second and third quarters—but were unable to capitalize.

### Next Matches

Utah will be preparing to host their rival BYU on November 9, while Houston is set to host No. 16 Kansas State this coming Saturday.