Sanchez's Field Goal as Time Runs Out Lifts Football over Arizona

Saturday, October 18

Houston, Texas

11 a.m.

University of Houston

6-1 , 3-1

Arizona

4-3 , 1-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Arizona

Houston

Photo by: Jordan Burgess/Houston Athletics

Sanchez's Field Goal as Time Runs Out Lifts Football over Arizona

10/18/2025 3:05:00 PM | Football

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Cougars rise to 6-1 and become bowl eligible for first time since 2022

HOUSTON (AP) – University of Houston senior kicker Ethan Sanchez drilled a 41-yard field as time expired to lead Houston to a 31-28 win over Arizona inside TDECU Stadium on Saturday.

Sanchez capped a 13-play, 52-yard drive with the field goal. Houston (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) became bowl-eligible for the first time since 2022 with the win.

Junior quarterback Conner Weigman went 15-of-23 passing for 164 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 98 yards and a touchdown. Weigman threw touchdown passes of 52 and 15 yards and rushed for a 10-yard score in the first half as Houston took a 21-14 halftime lead.

Senior running back Dean Connors rushed for 100 yards on 20 carries for the Cougars, which outgained Arizona 396-381 yards, including 232-112 rushing.

Weigman threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Amare Thomas with six minutes left in the third quarter to put the Cougars up 14.

Arizona (4-3, 1-3) cut the lead to seven on a 3-yard touchdown run by Tre Spivey to start the fourth quarter, and tied it at 28 on a 2-yard touchdown run by Kedrick Reescano with 4:48 left.

Noah Fifita finished 24-of-26 for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Fifita threw touchdown passes of 70 yards to Spivey and 13 yards to Luke Wysong in the first half.

NOTES
Arizona: The Wildcats had issues stopping Houston on the ground but also getting the Cougars off the field. The Wildcats have lost three of their last four games.

Houston: The Cougars had issues slowing Fifita, but they did get four sacks and six tackles for loss. Houston finished 10 of 16 on third and fourth downs combined.

UP NEXT
Houston returns to action when it faces Arizona State at 7 p.m. (CDT), Saturday, Oct. 25, inside Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. Broadcasting network for that game will announced soon.

Houston returns to TDECU Stadium to play host to West Virginia on Saturday, Nov. 1. Game time and broadcasting network for that game will be announced soon.

All Houston Football games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app.

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