Case Keenum, Matt Hogan and Brandon Hartson celebrate a last-second field goal that lifted Houston to a 46-45 victory over Tulsa. (AP Photo/David Crenshaw)
Setting the Scene
In a key matchup featuring Conference USA West Divison rivals, Tulsa has pulled ahead 45-37 with only 3:23 remaining in the game.
Facing 4th-and-3 from the Houston 46, hits wide receiver James Cleveland for an 11-yard gain.
Hit Cleveland again for a 16-yard gain on 3rd-and-10 from the Tulsa 43.
Completed back-to-back passes to wide receivers Tyron Carrier and Patrick Edwards to move into the red zone.
Following three unsuccessful rushes, connected with Cleveland on a 1-yard touchdown to pull to 45-43.
Finished the drive 5-of-9 for 40 yards, hitting each of his last four passes.
Setting the Scene
However, the ensuing 2-point conversion attempt failed. Forced into an onsides kick with only 20 seconds left in the game and trailing 45-43, the Cougars recovered the ball and take over on their own 39.
On 2nd-and-10, hit Cleveland for 14 yards into Tulsa territory.
Connects with wide receiver Tyron Carrier on a 13-yard pass that takes the ball to the Tulsa 34.
Kicker Matt Hogan nails a 51-yard field goal to give the Cougars the win and their fifth straight win.
Keenum finished the field-goal drive 2-for-3 for 27 yards and led the Cougars to nine points in the final 21 seconds.
#15/16 Houston 50, Southern Miss 43 John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium - Houston, Texas - Oct. 31, 2009Setting the Scene
Trailing 43-29 midway through the final quarter, Southern Miss rallied to tie the game at 43-43 with only 57 seconds remaining. A loss to the Golden Eagles would end the Cougars' long home winning streak and all but end the team's chances of winning the 2009 Conference USA championship. With the ball on the Houston 23, Keenum led the Cougar offense onto the field for the last drive.
Connected with wide receiver James Cleveland on a 17-yard strike and took advantage of a facemask penalty to move into USM territory.
Facing 3rd-and-11 from the USM 46, hit sophomore receiver Tyron Carrier on an 18-yard reception to extend the drive and stop the clock.
After USM jumped offsides, took advantage of the free play to hit wide receiver Patrick Edwards in the back corner of the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown that gave the Cougars the lead for good.
Finished the drive 5-of 5 for 62 yards and the game-winning touchdown.
Was the fourth comeback of his career in which the Cougars trailed or were tied in the final minute.
#17/23 Houston 29, Texas Tech 28
Case Keenum dives into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown against Texas Tech. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
John O'Quinn Field - Robertson Stadium Houston, Texas - Sept. 26, 2009
Setting the Scene
Trailing 28-23 entering the fourth quarter, the Cougars used a valiant goal line stand to prevent the Red Raiders from extending their lead. The Cougar offense took over, but the ensuing drive was thwarted on a Texas Tech interception midway through the final period. The Houston defense limited the Red Raiders to three plays and a punt that downed the ball at the Houston 5 with 5:47 remaining in the game. Needing a touchdown to take the lead, Keenum and the Cougar offense also had to be careful to not leave the potent Texas Tech offense too much time.
Hit receiver Patrick Edwards for seven yards on 3rd-and-4 on the third play of the drive.
Facing third-and-10 from the Houston 34, tucked the ball away and scampered 10 yards to give the Cougars a new set of downs.
Connected with Edwards again on 4th-and-3 from the Texas Tech 42 to keep the drive alive.
Hit wideout Tyron Carrier for 23 yards to take the ball to the Texas Tech 7 with just more than a minute remaining.
Following running back Bryce Beall's 3-yard run and a Cougar timeout, Keenum gave the Cougars the lead for good with a 1-yard touchdown plunge with only 49 seconds left.
Faced three 3rd-down situations and one 4th-down situation.
Finished the drive 4-of-7 for 43 yards through the air.
Added three rushes for 22 yards, including the game-winning 1-yard touchdown plunge.
Houston 45, at #5/6 Oklahoma State 35
Case Keenum signals a touchdown during the second half against Oklahoma State. (AP Photo/Stillwater NewsPress, Ben Woloszyn)
Setting the Scene
Although the Cougars have led for most of the game, No. 5/6 Oklahoma State rallied with 21 points in the third quarter and an early touchdown in the final period for a 35-31 lead with 11:22 remaining in the game. Taking over at the Houston 20, Keenum looks to silence a raucous OSU crowd at Boone Pickens Stadium.
Cougars scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to turn a 28-24 deficit into a 45-35 win.
Wasted little time in moving the team, hitting Tyron Carrier for a 30-yard strike to midfield.
Following back-to-back passes to Patrick Edwards, his lone incompletion and a 9-yard run by sophomore Bryce Beall, hit James Cleveland for a 6-yard gain on third down to extend the drive.
After four straight runs put the ball on the OSU 6, threw a pass that was tipped in the end zone but corralled by Beall for a 38-35 Houston lead.
Was 5-of-6 passing for 55 yards and a touchdown on the game-winning drive.
Was the program's first win against a top-five team on the road since 1984.
Houston 42, UTEP 37 John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium - Houston, Texas - Sept. 22, 2008
Setting the Scene
The 2008 regular-season finale did not appear to be going the Cougars' way. UTEP jumped out to 28-9 lead with 3:46 remaining in the third quarter. However, the Cougars scored a touchdown on their next two possessions to pull to within 28-23. The two teams then traded touchdowns for a 35-30 UTEP lead, and the Cougars grabbed a 36-35 lead when Keenum hit receiver Kierrie Johnson on a 16-yard touchdown with 4:54 remaining. However, on the ensuing two-point PAT attempt, UTEP's Josh Ferguson returned the conversion the length of the field for two points and a 37-36 UTEP lead. The Cougar defense limited UTEP to three plays and a punt on the next possession, so with 2:35 remaining in the game, Keenum looks to give the Cougars the lead for good.
Completed a 12-yard pass to receiver Chaz Rodriguez on 3rd-and-1 from midfield on the third play of the drive.
Connected with tight end Mark Hafner for a 10-yard strike on 3rd-and-2 from the UTEP 30.
Following a timeout with 43 seconds left, took the snap and bulled ahead one yard for a touchdown and the game-winning score
Went 4-of-4 passing for 33 yards and added the go-ahead score with a 1-yard touchdown plunge on the final drive.
Went 15-of-15 passing for 180 yards in the fourth quarter alone and completed his last 22 passes to end the game.
Was the biggest comeback in school history, topping 17-point deficits on two other occasions.
Case Keenum passes to Tyron Carrier for the game-winning score. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Houston 44, SMU 38 Gerald J. Ford Stadium - Dallas, Texas - Oct. 18, 2008
Setting the Scene
Trailing 38-23 with 9:24 remaining in the third quarter, Keenum scored on a 9-yard touchdown run against host SMU with 9:23 remaining in the game. An SMU field goal with 4:55 left handed the Mustangs a 38-30 lead. With 2:34 left, running back Bryce Beall scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, but the ensuing 2-point conversion failed, leaving the Cougars in a 38-36 hole. Forcing SMU to punt after three plays, the Cougars took over on their own 15 with 1:58 remaining, needing only a field goal to remain perfect in Conference USA play.
Efficiently led the Cougars 85 yards down the field, never facing third down or anything worse than 2nd-and-10.
Connected with receiver Patrick Edwards for 15 yards to move into SMU territory.
Hit wideout Chaz Rodriguez for an 11-yard gain and then Edwards for five yards to move to the SMU 26.
Lifted a 26-yard pass to Tyron Carrier in the end zone with only 24 seconds remaining for the game-winning score.
Finished 5-of-6 for 67 yards, completing each of his last five passes, and the game-winning touchdown.
Also rushed once for 10 yards on 2nd-and-10 on the second play of the drive.
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