All seemed lost for Houston’s football team during Thursday night’s Big XII showdown against West Virginia. The Mountaineers led the Cougars 39-35 with only three seconds remaining.
There was one saving grace for Houston, however. The Cougars were at midfield and quarterback Donovan Smith had the range to reach the end zone, giving them one chance at a low-percentage Hail Mary. But while Hail Mary’s rarely work, they sometimes do. This was one of those times.
Smith rolled to his left to escape pressure and fired the ball toward the goal line. While most Hail Marys have a high arc, this was more of a line drive. A sea of hands met the ball at the goal line and knocked it into the air. Houston receiver Stephon Johnson was not part of the sea of hands. He bumped into a defender and stumbled, though stayed on his feet. That was particularly fortuitous for Houston as Johnson regained his balance and was in perfect position to catch the ball for the winning touchdown.
HOUSTON HAIL MARY FOR THE WIN VS WEST VIRGINIA!
Tim Brando and Spencer Tillman on the call for FS1. 🏈🔥📺🎙️pic.twitter.com/dEEZVAt4Gk
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 13, 2023
The wild finish had college football fans buzzing.
Holy shhhhh Houston! https://t.co/4yalA2JhPn
— Evan Barnes (@evan_b) October 13, 2023
Dude! 🤯 https://t.co/JdHyudUq0R
— Brad Davis (@Bgamer90) October 13, 2023
Holy Toledo! https://t.co/0hAQ1VZdpw
— lhd_on_sports (@lhd_on_sports) October 13, 2023
Hail Mary… ALMOST HEAVENNNNNNN 😅 https://t.co/9ElFEu6gEW
— Chad Willis (@ChadWillis) October 13, 2023
Knock it down!!! Tom Jackson's advice still holds up. You don't, this happens. https://t.co/q7nZQdNyBK
— Steve Lawlis (@stevelawlis) October 13, 2023
What was particularly wild about this game was that it already had what looked to be a frenetic finish.
West Virginia went ahead with only 12 seconds remaining when on a fourth-and-10, quarterback Garrett Greene found receiver Hudson Clement over the middle. Clement broke a tackle and sprinted into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown.
THE MOUNTAINEERS WITH A 50 YARD TD TOSS FOR THE LEAD WITH 12 SECONDS LEFT!!! https://t.co/yg14o97CVE
— 🇸🇲 Sickos Committee 🇸🇲 (@SickosCommittee) October 13, 2023
But during the celebration, Greene was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, which moved the ensuing kickoff back to the 20-yard line. That allowed Houston to start in great field position. An eight-yard completion from Smith to Dalton Carnes set the Cougars up for the Hail Mary on the following play.
[Sickos Committee, Photo Credit: FS1]
