UH Uses Furious Rally to Down LA Tech 35-34

RUSTON - Patrick Edwards' 32-yard touchdown reception with 1:36 to play capped a furious second half rally as Houston defeated Louisiana Tech 35-34 before 24,642 fans at Joe Aillet Stadium Saturday night.
Edwards leaping catch in the back of the north endzone capped an 84-yard, six play drive as Houston (3-0) scored the final 28 points of the game after the Bulldogs had taken a 34-7 lead on a Ray Holley seven-yard run with just over five minutes to play in the third quarter.
Tech (1-2) had one final chance to retake the lead but Lennon Creer was stopped just short on a fourth down play at the Bulldogs 37-yard line with just under a minute to play as Houston ran the final seconds off the game clock while a sea of blue streamed out of the Joe Aillet Stadium gates in shock.
Behind a stellar defensive performance through the first 40 minutes of action and a ball control offense that kept the high-powered UH offense on the sideline, LA Tech took a 20-7 lead into the halftime locker room as Matt Nelson booted a 47-yard field goal at the end of the half.
Nick Isham threw a 16-yard strike to Quinton Patton with 6:47 to play in the third making the score 27-7 and after a Quin Giles interception, Holley's seven-yard run gave Tech its biggest lead of the night.
However, Case Keenum - who had been held in check through the first 40 minutes of play - passed for 280 of his game-high 351 yards in the second half as he led Houston on four touchdown drives, including three in the fourth quarter.
After Bryce Beall's two-yard run early in the fourth quarter made the score 34-21, Tech marched 42-yards on nine plays and looked to be in control until Holley fumbled on the UH 22-yard line, giving the Cougars life.
Keenum took Houston 80 yards on nine plays as Beall scored again - this time from four yards out - to cut the deficit to 34-28 with 7:25 to play. Keenum completed a key fourth-down and four pass to keep the drive alive.
Following an Isham interception on Tech's next possession, the Bulldog defense stood tall forcing a three out with 5:40 to play. However, the Bulldog offense could muster only one first down as Houston took over following a Ryan Allen punt with 2:46 to play - setting up the game-winning drive.
Isham completed 20-of-31 passes for 199 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions while Patton led Tech with five receptions for 82 yards and one score before leaving the game following his touchdown reception.
Creer - despite missing more than a quarter with an injury - rushed 25 times for 99 yards and one score while Holley added 62 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Keenum completed 25-of-40 passes for 351 yards and three scores and two interceptions.
Jay Dudley led Tech with 11 tackles while Adrien Cole added eight and two tackles for loss.
The Bulldogs return to action Saturday when they travel to Starkville to face Mississippi State at 6 p.m. CT in a game that will be televised on ESPNU.