HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- Anthony Gordon completed 36-of-48 passes for 440 yards and three touchdowns as 20th ranked Washington State came from behind to beat Houston 28-17 in the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff Friday night at NRG Stadium.
Houston held Washington State's high-powered offense to just 173 yards in taking a 14-7 lead into halftime. D'Eriq King found Marquez Stevenson for a 13-yard touchdown pass to start the scoring in the second quarter, and after Gordon found Easop Winston from 39 yards out to tie the game, King put Houston back on top with a 1-yard touchdown run. Washington State drove to the Houston 20 with a chance to tie before the break, but Gleso Sprewell intercepted Gordon in the endzone, but Washington State continued to move the ball in the second half.
Houston received the kickoff at the start of the third quarter, but its first drive ended with a fumble at its own 44-yard line, and six plays later, Max Borghi ran it in from a yard out, and the extra point tied the game. Houston punted on its next possession, and Washington State traveled 91 yards in four plays, capped by Gordon's 39-yard touchdown pass to Dezmon Patmon, giving the Cougars their first lead of the night. Houston pulled to within four points when Dalton Witherspoon kicked a 42-yard field goal with 10:45 to play, but despite being pinned back to their own five-yard line, Gordon led an 8-play, 95-yard drive that ended in a five-yard touchdown pass to Travell Harris, that made it 28-17 Washington State.
A second Houston fumble allowed Washington State to add a field goal, and while King capped a 75-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run, cutting the Cougars lead in half,
King completed 13-of-24 passes for 128 yards. He ran the ball for 94 yards. He joined Tim Tebow as the only players in college football history to have passing and rushing touchdowns in 14 straight games.
Brandon Arconado finished with nine catches for 115 yards as Washington State improves to 3-0 on the season. The Cougars will begin Pac 12 play by hosting UCLA September 21.
King led Houston in rushing with 104 yards, while Patrick Carr added 77 yards on nine carries.
The loss drops the Cougars to 1-2 on the season, and they'll open conference play at Tulane Thursday night.
