Wylie's Keenum Sparks Shocking NCAA Upset
By: RNS/Austin Kellerman
Updated: September 12, 2009
Wylie graduate Case Keenum threw for three touchdowns and connected with Bryce Beall on a six-yard TD pass late in the fourth quarter, as Houston upset fifth-ranked Oklahoma State, 45-35, at Boone Pickens Stadium. Keenum connected on 32-of-46 passes for 366 yards and an interception for the Cougars (2-0), who blew out Northwestern State in the season-opener, 55-7. Beall also rushed for 78 yards and a score on 18 carries. Tyron Carrier caught seven passes for 111 yards and a TD.
Zac Robinson went 18-of-31 for 240 yards, a touchdown, and an interception for the Cowboys (1-1), who won 24-10 over then 13th-ranked Georgia last week. Dez Bryant led the receiving corps with 85 yards on five catches and returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown. Beau Johnson rushed for 82 yards on nine carries with a touchdown.
After OSU went ahead 35-31 with 11:22 remaining in the contest, the Cougars put together an impressive drive to take back the lead. Keenum got the drive started with a beautiful 30-yard pass to Carrier and a 15-yard run by A.J. Dugat later in the drive set up the Cougars at the Oklahoma State seven. On 4th-and-goal, Keenum scrambled around before throwing a pass into the end zone that hit off an OSU defender before landing in the hands of Beall as Houston went up 38-35 with just under seven minutes to play.
A 26-yard interception return for a TD by Jamal Robinson with just over three minutes to play essentially sealed the victory for the Cougars.
The Cowboys, who trailed by 17 points after 30 minutes of play, came out a much different team in the second half. On its first possession, Keith Toston topped off a nine-play, 62-yard drive with a nine-yard TD run to cut the deficit to 24-14. After stopping Houstons offense, Bryant returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown, cutting the gap to three. Johnsons 37-yard TD run gave the Cowboys a 28-24 lead with less than four minutes left in the third. The Cougars then put together a drive, which had them set up at the OSU one-yard-line when the period came to an end.
After two straight unsuccessful quarterback sneaks, Beall pushed his way into the end zone on fourth down to give the Cougars a 31-28 edge with 13:40 remaining in the game. On the ensuing OSU possession, Robinson connected with Josh Cooper on a 22- yard TD pass to put the hosts ahead 35-31. Houston capitalized on an early turnover to score the games first points. David Hunter recovered a fumble at Oklahoma State 16 and Keenum scampered into the end zone on the Cougars first play for the 7-0 lead.
The Cowboys marched down the field on its next turn, but Dan Bailey missed a 37-yard field goal wide left. Houston took over and put together a 13-play, 66-yard drive that ended in a 31-yard field from Jordan Mannisto and the 10-0 score held up for the rest of the period. Kendall Hunter finished off a nine-play, 63-yard drive with a nine-yard TD run in the early stages of the second stanza to pull Oklahoma State within three. However, the remainder of the half belonged to a determined Cougars squad. With close to 3 1/2 minutes remaining in the half, Keenum hit Patrick Edwards with a 17-yard TD pass to cap off an impressive nine-play, 96-yard romp to put Houston ahead 17-7. The Cougars then recovered an onsides kick, and Keenum connected with Carrier on a 32-yard touchdown pass to end a six-play, 62-yard drive and carry a 24-7 lead heading into the locker room.
