Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
HOUSTON (AP) - Head coach Bronco Mendenhall stood in front of reporters exhausted. After leading BYU to a thrilling 47-46 comeback win over Houston, the nine-year head coach looked as if he had been put through the ringer.
It was over whenAlani Fua intercepted Houston freshman quarterback John O'Korn with just over a minute left. BYU had just taken the lead on a Taysom Hill touchdown pass to Skyer Ridley. BYU was able to run out the remaining minute.Player of the Game
There were a lot of choices on both sides of the ball, but the man who earned this was the player who wanted the ball in crunch time: Taysom Hill. The sophomore's game was up and down, but he threw for 417 yards and four touchdowns. Adding in 128 yards on the ground and Hill had an amazing game. He is the first BYU quarterback with a 400-yard passing and 100-yard rushing game.Stat of the Game: 115
BYU ran 115 plays, which ties the NCAA record for plays in a game. This record was set last year by Houston in a game they lost to Louisiana Tech.
#box
"We haven't been in one like that in a while, or maybe ever," he said. "We were kind of dazed a little bit of what's going on by the wildness of the game. It's fun - well, it's fun now - not when it's going on."
Trailing 46-41 and facing second-and-1 from the 11 yard line, Taysom Hill found Cody Hoffman for the go-ahead strike. While known for his running ability, BYU's signal caller Hill's arm was the difference.
BYU (5-2) set the school record for plays with 115 plays and Hill finished 29 for 44 for 417 yards passing and four touchdowns to go with 194 yards rushing.
"Just lucky he came to BYU," Mendenhall said of Hill. "It's fun to see him have success. He's not perfect and our team's not perfect. It's fun to see him be here and really want to do well."
Hill's heroics came at Houston's expense.
Houston (5-1) clawed back from a slow start and looked to be in position to stay among the ranks of the unbeaten. For Houston any positives are outweighed by the outcome.
"There are no moral victories," Levine said. "A loss is a loss. We knew it would be a great game going into it. Two great football teams going toe-to-toe.
"They made enough plays to win the football game," Levine continued. "That's a tough locker room right now."
The offensive slugfest produced 1,164 yards and 93 total points. Houston scored via the big play while six of BYU's eight scoring drives went for 70 yards or longer.
The offensive explosion of the first half made way for a defensive battle as the teams combined for just nine points in the second half.
Derrick Mathews notched back-to-back sacks, including a safety for the only points of the third quarter to give Houston a 40-34 lead. It was the first safety by Houston since 1993.
Hill rekindled his first half rhythm hitting Cody Hoffman for a 25-yard touchdown pass to give BYU a 41-40 lead. Hoffman's touchdown was the 30th of his career, tying him for the school record.
Houston looked poised to respond immediately as O'Korn hit a 76-yard pass to Spencer to set up 1st-and-goal from the 4. After two failed attempts and a sack, Richard Leone missed a 40-yard field goal. The miss was his second of the game and costly for Houston.
In the end, Hill and BYU struck last to claim the road win.
BYU got off to a quick start when Spencer Hadley intercepted O'Korn on the first play of the game. Three plays later Jamaal Williams ran in a 15-yard touchdown to give BYU a 7-0 lead.
The hometown Cougars followed BYU's first 10 points with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from DeMarcus Ayers. Change of pace quarterback Greg Ward, also a freshman, then hit Xavier Maxwell for a 69-yard touchdown.
On the ensuing drive Houston got a second non-offensive touchdown when Mathews, who added three sacks, scored on a 29-yard interception return for a brief first quarter 21-17 lead.
Hill threw two first quarter touchdowns to Ross Apo, 11 and 18 yards, as BYU re-claimed a first quarter lead 24-21.
Houston's defense started to respond in the second quarter. They stopped four of BYU's six drives in the second quarter and held the visitors to 10 points.
O'Korn and the offense heated up as well. The freshman hit touchdown passes of six yards to Deontay Greenberry and connected with Daniel Spencer to spark a dazzling 41-yard catch-and-run to help Houston to a 38-34 first half lead. (Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
