Jack Martin’s 43-yard field goal on the game’s final play lifted Houston over visiting Utah 17-14 on Saturday in a Big 12 Conference defensive battle.

Houston (3-5, 2-3) beat the preseason conference favorites despite amassing only 289 yards of total offense, including just 61 through the air. Zeon Chriss hit on six of his 13 throws for two scores and one interception and J’Marion Burnette had 81 of Houston’s 228 rushing yards.

The score was tied at 14 when Houston’s A.J. Haulcy intercepted a pass from Utah backup quarterback Brandon Rose at the Cougars 46 with 1:55 to play. The Cougars ran eight straight times and converted one third down to set the table for Martin’s kick, which split the uprights and gave Houston its second win in its past three contests.

The Utes (4-4, 1-4) got 171 passing yards from Isaac Wilson with Brant Kuithe racking up 113 yards and a TD on five catches. Utah has dropped four straight games.

Utah struck first, cashing in on its opening possession with a 71-yard TD pass from Wilson to Kuithe. Houston answered with a 21-yard scoring toss from Chriss to Stephon Johnson with 11:54 to play in the second quarter.

Utah had the chance to regain the lead midway through the second but Cole Becker missed a 46-yard field goal at the end of a 13-play, 7:34 drive. Becker missed again when he was short on a 52-yard attempt with five seconds left until halftime.

The Cougars moved to the Utah 1-yard line on their opening possession of the third quarter but were stopped on fourth down when Burnette was tackled in the backfield by Landon Barton.

Utah went back in front when Micah Bernard burst up the middle for a 14-yard touchdown with 5:01 to play in the third. The score came three plays and less than a minute after Johnathan Hall intercepted Chriss’ pass and returned the pick 24 yards.

Houston tied the score at 14 as Chriss hit Joseph Manjack IV on a 28-yard slant route with 8:29 left to cap a 10-play, 85-yard march.

–Field Level Media