STATESBORO, Ga. – University of Houston senior quarterback Conner Weigman threw for four touchdowns and rushed for two more to lead the #25/rv Cougars to a 42-28 win over Georgia Southern at Allen E. Paulson Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Weigman spearheaded a balanced Houston offensive attack, which compiled 441 yards of total offense, including 239 through the air. The Cougars scored on six straight drives and did not punt throughout the contest.

The Cougars (3-1, 0-1 Big 12) jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and then scored 21 unanswered points after the Eagles rallied to tie the game at 14-14 midway through the second quarter.

In the first meeting between the two schools. Weigman became the first Cougar signal-caller to throw for multiple touchdowns and rush for multiple scores since Donovan Smith rushed for three and threw for two at Rice on Sept. 9, 2023.

Weigman also threw for 3+ touchdowns in his third straight game, a first in his career – and became the first Cougar quarterback to throw 3+ passing touchdowns in three consecutive games since Smith accomplished the feat in 2023.

Senior wide receiver Amare Thomas hauled in five catches for 50 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter. With that, the Birmingham, Ala., native recorded his ninth straight game with at least one touchdown catch, extending the nation's longest active streak. He became the first Big 12 player with receiving touchdowns in nine straight games since Oklahoma's Dede Westbrook (10 games) in 2017.

Saturday's game was a homecoming for Houston Head Coach Willie Fritz, who led the Eagles to a 16-7 record from 2014-15 and the 2014 Sun Belt Conference championship in its first season as an FBS team in 2014.

Georgia Southern (1-3, 0-0 Sun Belt) took the opening kickoff but was halted when junior defensive back Javion White popped Eagle running back David Mbadinga on a handoff exchange and forced the ball loose. Senior defensive lineman De'Marion Thomas pounced on the loose ball to set the Cougars' first score six plays later.

Weigman ran up the middle for five yards into the end zone to give the Cougars a 7-0 lead with 10:30 remaining.

After forcing Georgia Southern to punt on its next possession, the Cougars took over and marched 67 yards in eight plays. Weigman connected with junior wide receiver on a 22-yard touchdown in the end zone for a 14-0 Houston lead with 2:31 left in the opening period.

It marked the third straight game in which the Houston defense held its opponent scoreless.

The Eagles moved to within 14-7 on Max Johnson's 40-yard touchdown pass to Alex Taylor early in the second quarter.

Georgia Southern recovered the onsides kick on the ensuing kickoff and tied the game at 14-14 on Ty Cumming's 2-yard touchdown run around the left end with 9:28 remaining.

The Cougars answered on their next possession with a 9-play, 75-yard drive that took nearly four minutes off the clock. Tight end Patrick Overmyer broke several tackles on the way for a 47-yard gain to set the stage for Weigman's 1-yard touchdown run around the right side for a 21-14 Houston lead with 5:49 left in the first half.

After Houston's defense forced the Eagles to punt, the Cougars drove to the Eagles' two-yard line and extended their lead to 28-14 on Weigman's 2-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Traville Frederick Jr. with less than a minute remaining.

It didn't take long for the Cougars to push their advantage in the second half. With Houston taking the second-half kickoff, Weigman led the Cougars on an 8-play and hit senior wide receiver Trent Walker in the back of the end zone for a 35-14 Houston lead with 11:25 remaining in the third quarter.

Johnson connected with Taylor again, this time on a 23-yard touchdown pass, to move the Eagles to within 35-21 with 6:34 left in the period.

Once again, the Cougars answered on the ensuing drive, pushing their lead to 42-21 on Weigman's 11-yard touchdown pass to Thomas with 14:10 left in the fourth quarter.

Georgia Southern moved to within 42-28 on Johnson's 5-yard touchdown pass to River Helms with 8:20 left in the game.

UP NEXT
The Cougars continue their Big 12 schedule when they play host to UCF at 11 a.m., Saturday, inside TDECU Stadium. That game will be show on ESPN2.

It will be the Built by Houston game, in which Houston Football pays homage to the City of Houston by wearing Houston Blue. All fans are encouraged to wear Houston Blue for this game.