HOUSTON — Southern University endured a long night at TDECU Stadium on Saturday, falling to No. 22 Houston 77-6 as the Cougars dominated from the opening quarter through the final whistle.
Houston scored touchdowns on each of its first 11 possessions and produced 591 total yards, including 388 rushing yards. Southern managed just 121 total yards and four first downs.
The 71-point defeat marked Houston’s largest margin of victory since a 95-21 win over SMU in 1989.
Final Score
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
| Southern | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| No. 22 Houston | 28 | 21 | 21 | 7 | 77 |
Houston Comes Out Firing
The Cougars wasted little time putting the game away.
Houston opened the scoring with P. Overmyer’s 9-yard touchdown reception from Conner Weigman, followed by a 9-yard touchdown run from Re’Shaun Sanford II.
Makhi Hughes then added a 1-yard rushing touchdown, and Amare Thomas capped the first quarter with an 8-yard touchdown reception from Weigman.
Houston led 28-0 after one quarter.
The offensive onslaught continued in the second.
Koby Young hauled in a 43-yard touchdown pass from Weigman to make it 35-0. Young struck again later in the quarter, this time on a 7-yard touchdown reception from Keisean Henderson.
John Hebert then scored on a 20-yard touchdown reception from Henderson, sending Houston into halftime with a 49-0 advantage.
Southern Finally Gets on the Board
Southern’s lone touchdown came early in the third quarter.
Wydell Clark Jr. broke loose for a 79-yard touchdown reception from Wyatt McCauley, giving the Jaguars their only points of the night.
The touchdown cut Houston’s lead to 70-6, but the Cougars continued to pour it on.
Keisean Henderson rushed for a 54-yard touchdown, followed by a 9-yard touchdown run from DJ Butler.
Hebert added his second touchdown of the night on a 7-yard rushing score, giving Houston a 70-6 lead heading into the fourth.
Luke Carney provided the game’s final touchdown with an 8-yard rushing score in the fourth quarter.
Houston finished with a 77-6 victory.
Houston Offensive Leaders
Houston’s offense was nearly unstoppable.
Conner Weigman finished 20-of-30 passing for 305 yards, while the Cougars’ ground attack produced 388 yards.
Makhi Hughes led Houston with 98 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
Re’Shaun Sanford II added 75 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, including a 56-yard run.
Koby Young caught the two touchdown passes in the second quarter, while Amare Thomas finished with 8 receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown.
P. Overmyer added 6 catches for 84 yards and a touchdown.
Houston also got major contributions from freshman quarterback Keisean Henderson, who scored through the air and on the ground.
Southern’s Numbers
Southern finished the night with only 121 total yards.
The Jaguars produced:
- 121 total yards
- -6 net rushing yards
- 127 passing yards
- 10-of-20 passing
- 50% completion rate
- 1 passing touchdown
- 4 first downs
- 42 total plays
- 2.9 yards per play
- 22 rushing attempts
- 76 receiving yards
Southern’s rushing attack actually finished at -6 net yards, with the Jaguars gaining 23 yards but losing 29.
The Jaguars’ lone touchdown came from Wydell Clark Jr.’s 79-yard reception, accounting for the majority of Southern’s 127 passing yards.
Team Statistics
| Statistic | Southern | Houston |
| Total Yards | 121 | 591 |
| Rushing Yards | -6 | 388 |
| Rushing Attempts | 22 | 45 |
| Yards Per Rush | -0.3 | 8.6 |
| Rushing TDs | 0 | 6 |
| Passing Yards | 127 | 203 |
| Completions-Attempts | 10-20 | 15-19 |
| Completion % | 50% | 79% |
| Yards Per Completion | 12.7 | 13.5 |
| YAC | 76 | 147 |
| Passing TDs | 1 | 5 |
| First Downs | 4 | 33 |
| Rushing 1st Downs | 0 | 20 |
| Passing 1st Downs | 2 | 10 |
| Penalty 1st Downs | 2 | 3 |
| Total Plays | 42 | 64 |
| Yards Per Play | 2.9 | 9.2 |
The Takeaway
There wasn’t much Southern could do to slow down Houston’s attack.
The Cougars averaged an eye-popping 9.2 yards per play, generated 33 first downs and scored 77 points. Houston’s 388 rushing yards alone were more than three times Southern’s entire offensive output.
For Southern head coach Marshall Faulk, the Jaguars now have to regroup after one of the most difficult performances of the young season. Southern falls to 1-2, while Houston improves to 2-0.
Despite the lopsided result, the Jaguars did manage one explosive moment when Clark Jr. turned a short opportunity into a 79-yard touchdown, giving Southern its only points of the evening.
But on this night in Houston, the Cougars were simply too much.
No. 22 Houston 77, Southern 6.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
- 8:59 — P. Overmyer 9-yard TD reception, C. Weigman pass — Houston 7-0
- 6:52 — R. Sanford II 9-yard TD run — Houston 14-0
- 4:11 — M. Hughes 1-yard TD run — Houston 21-0
- 0:28 — A. Thomas 8-yard TD reception, C. Weigman pass — Houston 28-0
2nd Quarter
- 10:57 — K. Young 43-yard TD reception, C. Weigman pass — Houston 35-0
- 6:10 — K. Young 7-yard TD reception, K. Henderson pass — Houston 42-0
- 1:36 — J. Hebert 20-yard TD reception, K. Henderson pass — Houston 49-0
3rd Quarter
- 13:43 — K. Henderson 54-yard TD run — Houston 56-0
- 9:39 — D. Butler 9-yard TD run — Houston 63-0
- 4:57 — J. Hebert 7-yard TD run — Houston 70-0
- 4:38 — W. Clark Jr. 79-yard TD reception, W. McCauley pass — Houston 70-6
4th Quarter
- 5:56 — L. Carney 8-yard TD run — Houston 77-6
