Weigman Shines as Houston Shuts Out SFA: Houston Cougars vs. Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks, Live Game Updates
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The Houston Cougars and Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks will kick off their respective 2025 seasons with a meeting between the two at TDECU Stadium in Houston Thursday night.
The two teams will be facing off for the first time since November 1948, when the Lumberjacks came away with the win to give them a 2-1 lead all-time against the Cougars, who endured a rough 4-8 2024 season.
But now, with a new and improved roster, the Cougars will look to avoid a repeat of the treacherousness that was last year and give head coach Willie Fritz a much more satisfying year at the helm.
Live Game Updates from "The Cage"
With Conner Weigman under center, having plenty of starting experience under his belt after three years in the SEC with Texas A&M, the on-field leadership for Houston is already seeing a boost in quality.
The Cougars never were able to get above .500 last year, going as high as 4-5 at one point before three straight losses to finish the season completely gutted any playoff hopes the team had, and the 18 total offensive touchdowns didn't help the team any, either.
"Each year in this day and age, your teams are going to be quite a bit different, besides the freshman that you bring in," Fritz said. "I want our guys to put everything into it for this season
"We're not worried about next year, the year after, or the year after that, just this season. I talked to them about you know, with all the new players that we have, high school kids and portal guys, we got to cook this like it's thrown in a microwave oven."
Now, the Cougars will again open their season in front of the home crowd in Houston, this time against an FCS opponent, as opposed to the UNLV Rebels they faced last year and lost to 27-7.
The game will kick off at 7:00 P.M. on ESPN+ and be sure to check back here for live updates as the action unfolds in real time from "The Cage."
Live Game Updates
Houston defers, the Lumberjacks receive the opening kick.
First Quarter
The Houston defense starts off the season strong with a three-and-out.
change of possession
Conner Weigman's first pass as a Cougar is a deep shot to Kobe Young which is unfortunately overthrown and incomplete. The Cougars are unable to reach the line to gain, and they punt.
change of possession
SFA gets the game's first down with an 11-yard gain, but the Cougars force a fourth down punt with a monstrous hit from Latrell McCutchin.
change of possession
Another three-and-out for the Coogs as they fail to get the offensive ball rolling.
change of possession
The Cougars force another three-and-out from the Lumberjacks and almost snag an interception.
change of possession
J'Marion Burnette finally gives the Cougars their first two first downs, and Houston uses the run game to drive to the red zone, where Conner Weigman and tight end Tanner Koziol connect for an 11-yard touchdown, both of their firsts with the Coogs. Extra point is good.
Cougars 7, Lumberjacks 0
change of possession
The Cougars prevent an answer from the opposition, as the 'Jacks go three-and-out.
change of possession
Amare Thomas' first catch is a needle-threading catch for a first down on 3rd and 8, but the Cougars are unable to drive much more, and punt it away as the second quarter begins.
Second Quarter
change of possession
The Lumberjacks go for it on 4th and 2, but the Coogs don't even budge, and SFA turns it over on downs.
change of possession
An offensive pass interference call on the SFA side of the field has the Cougars at one point facing a 2nd and 24, and a floater over the middle from Weigman to Mekhi Mews goes incomplete on 3rd and 20, and so Houston instead looks to kicker Ethan Sanchez, who sinks a 40-yard kick.
Cougars 10, Lumberjacks 0
change of possession
Sione Fotu is tagged with a late hit out of bounds, giving the Lumberjacks a free first down, but the Cougars break up their sixth pass of the night on a 3rd and 4, and force another punt.
change of possession
Defensive pass interference bails the Cougars out of a 3rd and 7, and then a 12-yard completion to Amare Thomas and a 27-yard run both by Conner Weigman drive the Cougars down to the SFA side of the field, which culminates in a 39-yard touchdown pass from Weigman to Burnette, capping off a nine-play, 96-yard drive. Extra point is good.
Cougars 17, Lumberjacks 0
change of possession
Just as SFA begins to pick up steam and move the ball downfield, Marc Stampley II intercepts Sam Vidlak and gives the ball back to the Cougars.
change of possession
The Cougars go for it on 4th and 1, but this time, SFA holds their ground and forces the turnover on downs as the clock runs down to halftime.
Third Quarter
Weigman is sacked to bring up a 3rd and 9 on the opening drive of the second half, but finds Koziol, who rumbles his way to a first down. Miscommunication on a handoff leads to a 2nd and 15 right after this, by Stacy Sneed quicky erases that with a 17-yard rush for the first down. After an 11-yard scramble for a first down, Weigman connected with Koziol on a 23-yard pass play, who was then slow to get up, but walked off under his own power. After a slight stall, Weigman unloads a perfect 20-yard pass to Amare Thomas for a touchdown, giving the Coogs a three-score lead.
Cougars 24, Lumberjacks 0
change of possession
The Cougars defense continues to show out, forcing another three-and-out.
change of possession
Good news, Tanner Koziol is back on the field for Houston, and makes a four-yard reception before the Coogs are forced to punt.
change of possession
After a 30-yard punt return from Bugs Mortimer, SFA quarterback Sam Vidlak is sacked and then strip sacked, and after a delay of game penalty, SFA faces a 3rd and 37, which goes nowhere the following play, forcing another punt from the 'Jacks.
change of possession
Weigman almost throws his first interception of the night, but luckily the pass is dropped, and the Coogs punt the ball away.
change of possession
Fourth Quarter
SFA tries some trickery on fourth down, but instead get a holding call as the play goes nowhere and they turn it over on downs.
change of possession
After an interception is downgraded to an incomplete pass to bring up fourth down, Ethan Sanchez knocks down his second field goal of the night, a 43-yarder.
Cougars 27, Lumberjacks 0
change of possession
SFA has a first down rushing called back due to holding, and eventually punt it away.
change of possession
Zeon Chriss-Gremillion comes into the game to relieve Conner Weigman, but an incomplete pass and two short rushes force a punt.
change of possession
SFA again tries for a fourth-down conversion, but an overthrow to the sideline prevents that and the team again turns over on downs.
change of possession
A 32-yard rush by DJ Butler is called back due to holding, and the Coogs punt it away.
change of possession
SFA opens up their possession with a 40-yard completion by wide receiver Clayton Wayland, and as they make it to the Houston 34-yard line, C.J. Douglas steps in front of a Gavin Rutherford pass and picks it off, giving the Coogs the ball back.
change of possession
Houston runs out the remainder of the clock with some big rush plays to shut out the Lumberjacks and start the season 1-0.
FINAL: Cougars 27, Lumberjacks 0
