HOUSTON — Donovan Smith accounted for five touchdowns, including a 49-yard touchdown pass to Stephon Johnson as time expired to give the Houston Cougars a thrilling 41-39 win over the West Virginia Mountaineers on Thursday night.
Johnson's touchdown catch was a fitting end to a wild fourth quarter that saw both teams combine for 42 points.
Trailing 39-35 with just three second remaining, Smith rolled to his left and hurled a Hail Mary from midfield, the ball was tipped at the goal line and Johnson caught it at the one and stepped into the end zone to end the game.
The win gave Houston (3-3, 1-2 Big 12) its first Big 12 win. The loss snapped West Virginia’s four-game win streak.
Trailing 35-24, West Virginia cut the lead to three when Garrett Greene scored on an eight-yard touchdown run with 3:42 remaining in the game. Green would complete the a 2-point conversion pass to Traylon Ray.
Houston would be forced to punt on their ensuing possession, giving the ball back to the Mountaineers.
Greene would hit Hudson Clement down the middle of the field for a 50-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-10 to give the West Virginia the lead with 12 seconds left. Michael Hayes added the extra point to give WVU a four-point lead as Greene waved goodbye to fans.
West Virginia was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the scoring play, forcing them to kick off from their own 20. Stacy Sneed would return the kick to the Houston 43.
On first down, Smith would complete an eight-yard pass to Dalton Carnes to get the Cougars closer and set up the last-play heroics.
Smith finished 21 of 27 for 253 yards and four scores through the air. He also had an two-yard rushing score with 28 second left before halftime to give the Cougars a 14-10 lead at the break.
Johnson caught four passes for 96 yards, and Sneed rushed for 78 yards on seven carries.
Greene threw for 391 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 47 yards and two touchdowns for West Virginia (4-2, 2-1). Devon Carter caught five passes for 116 yards.
West Virginia 10 0 7 22 = 39
Houston 7 7 7 20 = 41 First Quarter
WVU — Michael Hayes 27 field goal, 4:16. HOU — Matthew Golden 100 kickoff return (Jack Martin kick), 4:03. WVU — CJ Donaldson Jr. 5 run (Michael Hayes kick), 0:13. Second Quarter HOU — Donovan Smith 2 run (Jack Martin kick), 0:28. Third Quarter WVU — Traylon Ray 35 pass from Garrett Greene (Michael Hayes kick), 13:06. HOU — Joseph Manjack IV 15 pass from Donovan Smith (Jack Martin kick), 5:15. Fourth Quarter WVU — Garrett Greene 1 run (Michael Hayes kick), 14:16. HOU — Samuel Brown 8 pass from Donovan Smith (Jack Martin kick), 12:02. HOU — Stephon Johnson 21 pass from Donovan Smith (Jack Martin kick), 7:28. WVU — Garrett Greene 8 run (Garrett Greene pass to Traylon Ray), 3:42. WVU — Hudson Clement 50 pass from Garrett Greene (Michael Hayes kick), 0:12. HOU — Stephon Johnson 49 pass from Donovan Smith, 0:00.
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