kickoff to midfield, and Matt Stone picked up a first down on a fake punt. Houston outside linebacker Sammy Brown, the nation's leader in tackles for loss, then sacked McDermott and Mike Loftus missed a 35-yard field-goal attempt. Loftus replaced regular kicker Chase Hoover, who sat out with an illness.
After the Cougars took a 6-0 lead, J.R. Richardson returned a ensuing kickoff to midfield. But Houston outside linebacker Sammy Brown then sacked McDermott and Mike Loftus missed a 35-yard field-goal attempt. Loftus replaced regular kicker Chase Hoover, who sat out with an illness.