<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=19Ike5_0vPCsH6S00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=19Ike5_0vPCsH6S00" width="1182" height="619" >Entering the game as a 27-point underdog, your <a href="https://247sports.com/college/houston/">Houston Cougars</a> fought hard but lost to the <a href="https://247sports.com/college/oklahoma/">Oklahoma Sooners</a> 16-12 Saturday night at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Coogs don't beat the CoogsThat was an emphasis first year head coach <a href="https://247sports.com/coach/Willie-Fritz-3554">Willie Fritz</a> wanted engrained in his team from day one. Unfortunately, through two games that hasn't been the case. Much like in their opener, numerous mistakes were costly for this Houston club that has 63 new players.The Coogs outplayed the Sooners for a majority of the night, outgaining the home team by 69 yards, but mistakes cost UH dearly. It started early when wide receiver <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Mekhi-Mews-46146376">Mekhi Mews</a> fumbled a punt return at his own 10-yard line, giving the Sooners the ball after the Coogs defense forced a "3 &amp; out" on OU's first offensive possession. Predictably, on the very next play quarterback <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/jackson-arnold-46115051/">Jackson Arnold</a> found receiver <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/brenen-thompson-46100208/">Brenen Thompson</a> over the middle, giving Oklahoma a 7-0 lead at the 12:59 mark of the first quarter. Mews would later fair catch a punt at his own 4-yard line. The universal rule for returners is to put your heels on the 10-yard line. If the ball goes over your head, let the ball roll, even if it's downed inside the 10-yard line. Fumbles in the returns game are costly, like Mews demonstrated.A few possessions later left tackle <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/david-ndukwe-46085437/">David Ndukwe</a> was called for holding, wiping out a 37-yard pitch-and-catch from QB <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Donovan-Smith-46054065">Donovan Smith</a> to wideout <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/devan-williams-46128997/">Devan Williams</a> on a third down. The possession ended with a punt. Other mistakes included an offensive pass interference call on wide receiver <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/marquis-shoulders-46096502/">Marquis Shoulders</a> which cost the offense a third down and another holding call brought back a nice return by kick returner <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/bryan-massey-46084029/">Bryan Massey</a> early in the game. The most costly mistake however, was an offsides on rush end <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Brandon-Mack-46046699">Brandon Mack</a> that gave Oklahoma a first down on fourth-and-1 at their own 30-yard line at the five-minute mark of the fourth quarter with OU up just 14-12. The Sooners were able to run another three minutes off the clock, giving the Coogs the ball back one last time. After a 51-yard punt that had UH starting from their own 5-yard line, running back <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/stacy-sneed-46042940/">Stacy Sneed</a> was tackled for a 5-yardloss by defensive tackle <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/gracen-halton-46097719/">Gracen Halton</a>. The safety gave the Sooners a 16-12 lead and the ball back with a minute, 42 seconds left, effectively ending the game. Because of undisciplined play by OU, the Sooners gave the ball back to UH one last time due to an unsportsman like conduct foul, which stopped the clock with under :30 seconds remaining. Smith led the Coogs to midfield, but the drive ended there ending the game.Houston had 318 yards of total offense. With the Coogs offensive line not giving Smith enough time in the pocket, offensive coordinator <a href="https://247sports.com/Coach/kevin-barbay-4905/">Kevin Barbay</a> had his QB1 getting the ball out of his hands via the quick game. Smith connected on 24 of his 28 passes for 260 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Luckily the interception didn't cost them as it was on his own 32-yard line, forcing the ball into a small window that nickel Robert Jennings-Spears undercut. The Sooners went 3-and-out and missed a 45-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. Overall, Barbay called a nice combination of quick screens and swing passes, getting the ball out of Smith's hands in under 3 seconds for the most part.The Sooners defense played a lot of man coverage, daring the Coogs receivers to get open. StephonJohnson was particularly effective with the quick screens, catching 5 passes for 57 yards with a long of 23. <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/joseph-manjack-46058340/">Joseph Manjack</a> led the receivers with 72 yards on just 3 receptions, including a 44-yard TD on a deep post via play action on the first possession of the second half to bring UH to within 14-12. Mews caught 5 balls but for only 23 yards as he couldn't separate himself from OU's defensive backs out in space. Running back <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/ReShaun-Sanford-46102629">Re'Shaun Sanford</a> caught 3 swing passes for 48 yards with 2 coming on the final drive. Shoulders came off the bench for 22 yards on 3 catches. <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Jonah-Wilson-46111826">Jonah Wilson</a>, tight ends <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/maliq-carr-46042966/">Maliq Carr</a>, <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/jayden-york-46082921/">Jayden York</a> and Williams all caught one pass each for a combined 33 yards.The running game left a lot to be desired, producing just 58 yards on 35 carries, including Smith being sacked twice for minus-16 yards. In two games, the offense has rushed for 96 yards on 61 attempts for a meager 1.6 yards-per-carry average. Sneed led the RB unit with 33 yards on 11 rushes. Sanford had 22 yards on 7 carries while <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/parker-jenkins-46111811/">Parker Jenkins</a> had just 10 yards on 7 carries as well. True freshman <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/jmarion-burnette-46131483/">J'Marion Burnette</a> made his Cougar debut with 3 yards on 3 carries. Smith only rushed 7 times (including those 2 sacks) for minus-8 yards. Maybe his shoulder injury isn't 100-percent healed, but he's not being used in the run game as much as maybe he should, though he did have a few QB sneaks for first downs against a staunch Sooners defensive front.Speaking of staunch defensive fronts, the Cougars defense stopped the Sooners run game for the most part as Oklahoma ran for only 75 yards on 29 carries for a 2.6 YPC average. Arnold, the former 5-star rated QB, completed just 19 of his 32 passes for 174 yards with 2 TDs and an interception (by cornerback <a href="https://247sports.com/Coach/jeremiah-wilson-5197/">Jeremiah Wilson</a>). Defensive coordinator Shiel Wood's unit did a nice job of bringing pressure while also simulating pressure (showing blitz looks by crowding the line then dropping multiple defenders back in coverage).Defensive end <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Keith-Cooper-Jr-46094687">Keith Cooper</a> played another solid game with 5 solo tackles, including 3 tackles-for-loss and a sack. Fellow defensive linemen <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/carlos-allen-46083218/">Carlos Allen</a>, Anthony Holmes Jr, <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/xavier-stillman-46143873/">Xavier Stillman</a>, and <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/quindario-lee-46079564/">Quindario Lee</a> combined for 9 tackles and a TFL but were stout at the point of attack against a bigger Sooners Oline. This allowed the linebackers to clean up for tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage. Linebacker <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/michael-batton-46145936/">Michael Batton</a> added 2 sacks and had 9 total tackles (6 solo) as he was shooting gaps that were clear due to the defensive line doing their job of occupying offensive linemen.After not communicating in the first half, allowing a few huge pass plays, the secondary cleaned it up in the second half, finishing up the game strong. <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Adari-Haulcy-46111677">AJ Haulcy</a> did what he always does from his strong safety spot, lead the D in tackles with 11 (6 solo). Nickel back <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/hershey-mclaurin-46082718/">Hershey McLaurin</a> was all over the field with 5 tackles (4 solo), a TFL and a pass breakup. Free safety <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/kentrell-webb-46116140/">Kentrell Webb</a> was third with 6 total tackles (4 solo). Cornerback <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/latrell-mccutchin-46055188/">Latrell McCutchin</a> had just one tackle and a PBU but was a big part of why Sooners star receiver <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/deion-burks-46053642/">Deion Burks</a> had just 53 yards, on 9 catches.Special teams wise, on top of the aforementioned punt return miscues by Mews (minus-10 yards on 3 returns), Massey returned just one kick for 19 yards and punter <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/liam-dougherty-46147586/">Liam Dougherty</a> averaged just 40.7 yards on 6 punts. Kicker Joseph Kim made his Houston debut, replacing <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/jack-martin-46057709/">Jack Martin</a> on field goals. The walk-on connected on both attempts from 43 and 44 yards out in the first half.Good teams play complimentary football. The offense helps the defense and vice versa while the special teams help out both via the field position game. So far on the young season, this team does not do that, which will need to be addressed if the Coogs hope to win their first game of the season next week as they return to the comfy confines of TDECU Stadium for the 46th edition of the "Bayou Bucket." The game, Saturday September 14 against the <a href="https://247sports.com/college/rice/">Rice Owls</a> is set for 7pm CST and will be televised by ESPN+. Stay logged into Cougar Digest for all the latest on your Houston Cougars.</div></body>

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Improving Cougars come up short in Norman

Entering the game as a 27-point underdog, your Houston Cougars fought hard but lost to the Oklahoma Sooners 16-12 Saturday night at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. That was an emphasis first year head coach Willie Fritz wanted engrained in his team from day one. Unfortunately, through two games that hasn't been the case. Much like in their opener, numerous mistakes were costly for this Houston club that has 63 new players.

Improving Cougars come up short in Norman

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