MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – University of Houston senior quarterback Clayton Tune threw a pair of touchdown passes inside the final two minutes as Houston scored 26 fourth-quarter points to stun Memphis 33-32 on Friday night inside Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
Tune tossed a 13-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver KeSean Carter that capped a 12-play, 75-yard drive to pull Houston to 32-26 with 1:17 to play. Houston took possession following the ensuing onside kick on senior tight end Christian Trahan's recovery. Tune and Carter connected again six plays later for the game-winner on a 2-yard touchdown with 18 seconds to play.
It tied as the fifth biggest comeback in school history. It also was the second come-from-behind win over 19+ points in the fourth quarter against the Tigers in school history (The Cougars trailed 34-14 with 14:52 left in the fourth quarter on Nov. 14, 2015, before taking a 35-34 win).
Houston (3-3 • 1-1 American) has won two straight against Memphis (4-2 • 2-1 American) since ending a five-game losing streak to the Tigers in a 31-13 home win last season.
Tune finished 36-of-57 passing for 366 yards with three touchdowns. Redshirt freshman wide receiver Samuel Brown had nine receptions for 116 yards, and junior wide receiver Nathaniel Dell made 10 catches for 81 yards and a score. Carter finished with four receptions for 36 yards and a pair of scores.
Memphis looked to be headed toward an easy victory when Seth Henigan threw a lateral to Gabriel Rogers near the sideline. Rogers then avoided three defenders and ran back toward the logo and lofted a pass to Asa Martin in the end zone for a 41-yard touchdown that stretched the Memphis lead to 26-7 with 14:50 remaining.
Senior defensive back Jayce Rogers returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter for Houston, but Chris Howard made his fourth field goal, a 39-yarder, to push the Tigers' lead to 32-19 with 4:04 to play.
Henigan completed 21 of 32 passes for 241 yards for Memphis.
UP NEXT
Following their bye weekend, the Cougars return to action when they meet American Athletic Conference rival Navy at 11 a.m. (CST) Oct. 22, in Annapolis, Md.
That game can be seen on the ESPN family of networks and can be heard on 950 AM KPRC.
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