A Defining Drive
The Houston Cougars secured their first victory of the 2026 season with a decisive 33-20 win over the visiting Oregon State Beavers on Saturday, September 5. The outcome was largely defined by the offensive efficiency of quarterback Conner Weigman, who orchestrated the attack from TDECU Stadium in Houston before a crowd of 28,742.
Houston took an early lead but relied on sustained drives to build its margin. After Amare Thomas caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Weigman in the first quarter, the Cougars added a field goal and two scores in the second half to establish control. Makhi Hughes provided significant ground support, while Weigman’s dual-threat capability proved too much for the Oregon State defense to contain consistently.
First Half Scoring
The game began with Houston striking first. In the opening period, Conner Weigman connected with Amare Thomas on a 31-yard pass. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the Cougars with a 6-0 advantage after the extra point was missed by Jonathan Dimas.
Oregon State responded quickly in the second quarter when Braden Atkinson found the end zone on a 3-yard run, giving the Beavers a 7-6 lead.
Houston regained momentum late in the first quarter as Dimas kicked a 42-yard field goal to put Houston ahead 9-7. The Cougars extended their lead in the second period. Re'Shaun Sanford II broke loose for a 56-yard touchdown run, which was followed by a successful kick from Dimas, making the score 16-7 at halftime.
Dimas added another field goal, a 32-yarder, just before the break to push the margin to 19-7.