Cougars Fall to Aggies in Beefy thriller
Article By: THE HOUSTON POST
Staff writer
Las Vegas, NV — Allegiant Stadium
In a hard-fought contest at Allegiant Stadium in the second round of the inaugural Beefy Cup, the Houston Cougars came up just short, falling 35-32 to the Texas A&M Aggies after a failed onside kick sealed the game in the final moments. The showdown in Las Vegas was tight from start to finish, with both teams entering halftime deadlocked at 14 apiece, and the Cougars unable to break through for a comeback in the fourth quarter.
Despite the loss, Houston showcased a potent passing attack, led by quarterback Donovan Smith, who completed 25 of 35 passes for 404 yards, three touchdowns, and a single interception. Smith’s impressive performance was marred, however, by constant pressure from the Aggies' defense, which sacked him 11 times. Houston’s offensive line, heavily bolstered by transfer portal additions, showed flashes of potential but has remained inconsistent. This game was a prime example, as the line struggled to keep Smith upright against a relentless Texas A&M pass rush.
Houston held the edge statistically, outgaining Texas A&M in first downs (23-15) and total yardage (404-402). However, a key factor in their loss was the absence of an effective ground game, with the Cougars managing only a meager two rushing yards on the night.
Head Coach Rags remained optimistic in his postgame comments. "We played them toe to toe," he said. "I felt good about how the first half had gone and believed that if we could just get one big play, we would break through and take it. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get it, although give it to Jack (Martin, the kicker); that onside kick was close." Coach Rags ended with a grin, adding a playful “*wink wink*.”
As Houston looks ahead, questions remain about their offensive line's ability to protect Smith and create opportunities in the run game. Yet, with Smith’s continued growth and a resilient spirit, the Cougars will be aiming to regroup and make adjustments as they push further into regular season play.
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