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Game recap, analysis: Houston upsets Kansas State in Big 12 football game

In a game delayed by weather, the Cougars rallied for an improbable victory

Ben Sherman

Houston Cougars quarterback Zeon Chriss (2) drops back to pass against the Kansas State Wildcats in the second quarter at TDECU Stadium.
Houston Cougars quarterback Zeon Chriss (2) drops back to pass against the Kansas State Wildcats in the second quarter at TDECU Stadium. / Thomas B. Shea-Imagn Images
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With lightning in the area, Kansas State and Houston had to wait a little longer to kick off their Big 12 football game on Saturday afternoon at TDECU Stadium.

It was worth the wait for Houston.

The Cougars stunned the No. 17 Wildcats 24-19 behind a terrific game from quarterback Zeon Chriss and a hard-hitting, opportunistic defense.

Kansas State (7-2, 4-2) came into the game as 13.5-point favorites over Houston (4-5, 3-3).

Check out our live updates recap below, including in-game analysis, big play highlights and much more from Houston's big win:

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Final Stats

Houston quarterback Zeon Chriss was perfect in the passing game, completing 11-of-11 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. But it was Chriss' legs that hurt Kansas State in the second half. Chriss rushed 22 times for 75 yards, including a 41-yard game-winning touchdown run with 2:31 left in the game.

Houston coach Willie Fritz emphasized winning the turnover battle all week, and his team did just that. The Cougars came up with two huge interceptions, including a pick by Michael Batton with 1:36 left that sealed the victory.

Fourth Quarter Live Updates

Final score: Houston 24, Kansas State 19

The Cougars stun No. 17 Kansas State after coming into the game as 13.5-point underdogs.

Houston interception! Michael Batton makes a diving interception to give Houston the ball back with 1:36 left in the game. The Cougars will try to run out the clock, leading 24-19.

Houston touchdown! Zeon Chriss takes it right up the middle, untouched, for a 41-yard touchdown on a designed QB run. The Cougars now lead 24-19 with 2:31 left in the game. What a performance by Willie Fritz's team. Houston has outscored No. 17 Kansas State 14-0 in the fourth quarter.

Houston touchdown! Zeon Chriss throws a 1-yard touchdown pass to Maliq Carr to cut Kansas State's lead to 19-17 with 10:58 left in the game. Chriss is now 11-for-11 for 103 yards and a touchdown.

Houston interception! Jeremiah Wilson comes up with a huge play for the Cougars, intercepting an Avery Johnson pass and returning it to the Kansas State 9-yard line. Houston has first-and-goal with 12:32 left in the game.

Houston has the ball to start the fourth quarter, trailing 19-10.

Third Quarter Live Updates

End of third quarter: Kansas State 19, Houston 10

Kansas State field goal: On 4th-and-forever, Kansas State kicker Chris Tennant drills a 47-yard field goal in the driving rain to give Kansas State a 19-10 lead on the last play of the third quarter.

Houston turnover: The Cougars go for it on 4th-and-1 from Kansas State's 46-yard line and backup QB Donovan Smith is stuffed for a 1-yard loss. Kansas State takes over.

Kansas State turnover! The Wildcats botch a 52-yard field goal attempt and Houston takes over at its own 45-yard line with 9:13 left in the third quarter, trailing 16-10. The holder bobbled the snap, which threw off the timing and resulted in the holder being tackled for a 10-yard loss.

The rain is falling sideways to start the second half at TDECU Stadium. Houston has the ball to start the half, trailing 16-10.

Halftime Stats

Houston's defense was dominant in the first half, but a late turnover gifted Kansas State a 16-10 halftime lead. The Cougars held Kansas State running back DJ Giddens to just 27 yards on 9 carries and had four tackles for loss.

Houston QB Zeon Chriss is 7-of-7 for 94 yards and DJ Butler has 2 carries for 33 yards.

Houston will have the ball to start the second half.

Second Quarter Live Updates

Halftime score: Kansas State 16, Houston 10

Kansas State touchdown: The Wilcats score with 9 seconds left in the first half on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Avery Johnson to Keagan Johnson to take a 16-10 lead. Devastating sequence of events for Houston, who largely dominated the first half.

Houston turnover: Zeon Chriss loses the ball on a blindside sack and Kansas State recovers on Houston's 48-yard line with 38 seconds left in the first half. The Wildcats have all three timeouts and a kicker with a huge leg.

Kansas State touchdown: The Wildcats respond with a 14-play, 71-yard drive that culminates in a two-yard touchdown run by DJ Giddens. Houston blocks the PAT to keep the lead. It's Houston 10, Kansas State 9 with 1:48 left in the first half.

Houston field goal! Jack Martin boots a 22-yard field goal in the rain to give Houston a 10-3 lead with 8:37 left in the first half. This is shaping up to be Houston's kind of game. Cougars' QB Zeon Chriss has been perfect so far: 6-of-6 for 90 yards.

Houston touchdown! On 4th-and-2 from Kansas State's 45-yard line, Houston QB Zeon Chriss rolls right and finds Joseph Manjack IV for a 44-yard gain down to the one-yard line. On the next play Chriss scores on a one-yard run to give Houston a 7-3 lead. This game is playing out exactly as Willie Fritz hoped: a low scoring defensive scrum.

First Quarter Live Updates

End of first quarter: Kansas State 3, Houston 0

Kansas State field goal: The Wildcats score on their opening drive on a 23-yard field goal from Chris Tennant to take a 3-0 lead. The drive covers 70 yards on 15 plays. Forcing a field goal is a win for Houston's defense.

Kansas State will start with the ball.

Pregame Updates

It's a "black out" at TDECU Stadium with Houston fans wearing black and the Cougars donning special black uniforms with white helmets.

The fans are still filing back into TDECU Stadium after the lightning delay.

Published |Modified
Ben Sherman
BEN SHERMAN

Ben Sherman has been covering the sports world for most of his journalism career, including 17 years with The Oregonian/OregonLive. One of his favorite memories was covering the 1999 Fiesta Bowl - the first BCS National Championship Game - at Sun Devil Stadium.

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