BYU vs Houston final score: Cougars outlast Houston, 33-25, in home opener

The No. 25-ranked BYU Cougars got their first touchdowns of the season from running back Jamaal Williams, and two more touchdowns from quarterback Taysom Hill as they hung on to beat the Houston Cougars, 33-25, in their first game of the season in Provo Thursday night.

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Two BYU turnovers, a fumble by Mitchell Jurgens and an interception by Taysom Hill, in the second quarter fueled a Houston comeback. Houston scored 15 points in the quarter, including a hail mary touchdown pass to Daniel Spencer as time expired in the half. BYU had a 23-0 lead midway through the second quarter before they started turning the ball over.

Taysom Hill led the way for BYU, accounting for 360 yards of total offense (200 passing, 160 rushing). Williams added another 139 yards on the ground as BYU ran for 323 yards on the Houston defense.

BYU was able to extend the lead to 33-15 with 12 minutes remaining in the game, but they never scored again.

Houston quarterback John O’Korn led two more scoring drives in the next five minutes, but they could never get over the hump. BYU was able to burn time off the clock, and come up with defensive stops down the stretch.

The BYU defense was without linebacker Bronson Kaufusi, but senior safety Craig Bills picked up the slack with three big hits on Houston receivers throughout the game.

This was the first time that BYU took the field as a ranked team since September of 2012.

BYU will welcome Virginia to town on Saturday the 20th as they try to move to 4-0 for the first time since 2008, when they won the first six games of the season.

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