![]() ![]() We’ll keep working hard offensively and getting better, but we did enough defensively to win.” “Getting those three turnovers in the third quarter and not doing a whole lot with them is very disappointing. “Offensively we’re not anywhere close where we need to be,” Holgorsen said. Houston couldn’t score off the second consecutive interception, but Fleming unleashed his playmaking ability once more for a third-straight pick. I was like this is one route I’m not giving up in the game. So when I saw the three-by-one formation, of course it’s something we practice. 1 didn’t play and I knew he was gonna be the top target. 2 (Joshua Cephus), that one was one I knew was coming,” Fleming said. The Cougars failed to capitalize, but the Roadrunners launched the ensuing possession with a deep ball which made its hands into the way of Fleming - a route Fleming had been anticipating all game after copious amounts of film study. The back-to-back-to-back turnovers were initiated by linebacker Treylin Payne, who jumped a route at the 17-yard line to shut down a promising UTSA drive. The cornerback was then instrumental during a third quarter sequence where Houston intercepted not one, not two, but three consecutive UTSA passes. “I can’t say enough about Malik’s first game here as a Coog.” Malik Fleming’s 48-yard punt return in the first quarter set up Houston just 22 yards from the end zone. ![]() It’s what we do punt return wise around here,’ and they laughed,” Holgorsen said. “When he got that punt return out, I turned to Tank Dell, Marcus Jones, and Marquez Stevenson (three former Cougars who combined for 13 special teams touchdowns in college) and said, ‘It ain’t you guys. Just seven minutes into the contest, Fleming made his first splash as a Cougar by returning a punt 48 yards - setting up the Cougars’ first touchdown of the 2023 campaign, an 8-yard delivery from quarterback Donovan Smith to Joseph Manjack IV. The Big 12 logos that adorned the uniforms and stadium signage weren’t the only thing making a notable debut Saturday night.įormer East Carolina cornerback Malik Fleming, without needing any recruitment from Holgorsen or the staff, hand-picked Houston as his transfer destination this offseason, and the player-to-university pairing couldn’t have been more perfect. I’m really happy for our players to be able to experience that, our student section to be able to experience that, and for our fanbase to be able to see that.” I can’t tell you how much that affects our players and they go out to warm up and there’s people, and there’s just a lot of excitement. “I can’t thank the fans enough, the student section enough, they all turned out and they made a difference. “It’s been a vision from our athletic department to administration to certainly myself,” Houston head coach Dana Holgorsen said. That hype funneled into a raucous crowd - a crowd which heavily factored into Houston’s 17-14 victory over UTSA to usher in the 2023 season. The Cougars officially commenced life in the Big 12 Conference and celebrated the occasion by breaking out new Houston Oilers-style uniforms which were well-received from the fanbase all week. But there were other reasons for the Houston faithful to show out in droves to set the record for the most-attended game since 2017. TDECU Stadium typically opens its gates six or seven times each fall, but Saturday night in the venue’s 10th season of operation just felt different.ģ7,862 spectators packed in to indulge in the highly-anticipated rematch of Houston and UTSA, a matchup which gifted viewers an instant classic, triple overtime thriller on this same weekend a year ago. ![]()
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