Houston Cougars Kick Off Season with Shutout Victory!
Conner Weigman, the highly anticipated transfer quarterback from Texas A&M, made a stellar debut for the Houston Cougars, leading them to a decisive 27-0 victory over the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks in their season opener. Weigman showcased his arm talent and playmaking ability, throwing for 159 yards and three touchdowns.
The Cougars' offense, under Weigman's guidance, quickly established dominance. Weigman connected with Tanner Koziol for an 11-yard touchdown pass and later found J’Marion Burnette for a 39-yard score, giving Houston a commanding 17-0 lead by halftime. In the third quarter, Weigman added another touchdown, hitting Amare Thomas for a 20-yard completion.
"I felt like it was a lot of up and down,” Weigman said after the game. “I feel like we beat ourselves, but we made plays when we needed to. It’s always good to start the season 1-0.”
Coach Willie Fritz praised the defense for their outstanding performance, securing Houston's first shutout since 2021. "Outstanding job by the defense,” Fritz said. “It is really difficult to shut a team out nowadays. I don’t care what level you’re talking about – middle school or high school or NFL or college.”
The Cougars' defense stifled the Lumberjacks' offense, limiting them to just 144 total yards. Sam Vidlak and Gavin Rutherford struggled to find any rhythm, throwing for a combined 105 yards and two interceptions.
Key Performances:
- Conner Weigman: 15/24, 159 yards, 3 touchdowns
- Tanner Koziol: 7 receptions, 63 yards, 1 touchdown
- Amare Thomas: 3 receptions, 44 yards, 1 touchdown
Houston will look to build on this momentum as they travel to face Rice next Saturday, followed by a home game against Colorado to begin Big 12 play.