Weigman's 305-Yard Passing Day Powers No. 23 Houston to 33-20 Victory

Early Lead Sets the Tone

The decisive moment arrived in the opening minutes when Conner Weigman found Amare Thomas downfield for a 31-yard touchdown pass. Although Jonathan Dimas missed the extra point, the strike immediately put the No. 23 Houston Cougars on the scoreboard against the visiting Oregon State Beavers.

Houston capitalized on this early momentum, with Braden Atkinson rushing for a three-yard touchdown to give Oregon State the lead, but Dimas quickly restored Houston's advantage with a 42-yard field goal. The first quarter ended with the home team holding a 9-7 lead, establishing the defensive and offensive rhythm that would carry them through the rest of the contest.

Second-Half Dominance

Houston extended its lead in the second quarter, with Re'Shaun Sanford II breaking a 56-yard run for a touchdown. Dimas added a 32-yard field goal to close the half, leaving the Cougars up 19-7. The third quarter saw further separation as Makhi Hughes punched in a one-yard run for a touchdown.

Oregon State attempted to close the gap when Braden Atkinson connected with Jesse Legree for a seven-yard touchdown, but the two-point conversion failed. This sequence kept the game within reach for the Beavers, yet Houston's offensive consistency remained the defining factor.

Closing the Game

The fourth quarter brought a brief surge from the visitors, as AJ Newberry ran four yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit to six points. However, the game was effectively sealed when Conner Weigman showcased his dual-threat ability, rushing one yard for the final touchdown of the night. Dimas kicked the extra point to finalize the 33-20 victory.

The performance was a testament to Houston's balanced attack, which relied heavily on its passing game to control the tempo and prevent Oregon State from gaining sustained momentum.

Statistical Breakdown

Conner Weigman was the engine of the Houston offense, completing 20 of 30 passes for 305 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Amare Thomas was his primary target, catching eight passes for 133 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, Makhi Hughes carried the ball 17 times for 98 yards and a score.

For Oregon State, Braden Atkinson threw for 376 yards on 29 of 48 attempts, including a touchdown, while Jesse Legree hauled in five passes for 136 yards and a touchdown. The Cougars improved to 1-0, while the Beavers fell to 0-1 in front of a crowd of 28,742 at TDECU Stadium.

Sources

https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401856778