Houston Cougars Outlast Georgia Southern Eagles in 42-28 Victory

Cougars Take Control Early

The Houston Cougars (3-1) secured a 42-28 victory over the host Georgia Southern Eagles (1-3) on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Georgia. In front of a crowd of 24,112, Houston established a commanding lead in the first half, outscoring the Eagles 28-14. The decisive factor was the efficiency of Houston’s offense, which capitalized on early opportunities to build a cushion that Georgia Southern could not overcome.

Weigman’s Dynamic Performance

Quarterback Conner Weigman was the engine behind Houston’s attack, finishing with four touchdown passes and two rushing touchdowns. He completed 17 of 22 passes for 239 yards. Weigman’s dual-threat ability kept the Eagles’ defense off balance, as he scored on a one-yard run in the second quarter and connected with receivers for long gains. Re'Shaun Sanford II provided a powerful ground game, rushing for 120 yards on 17 carries, while Trent Walker led the receiving corps with 83 yards on six catches and a touchdown.

Eagles’ Second-Half Push

Georgia Southern attempted to rally in the second half, scoring 14 points in the third and fourth quarters. Quarterback Max Johnson threw for 284 yards and three touchdowns on 26 of 38 attempts. The Eagles’ offense found rhythm through receiver Alex Taylor, who caught six passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns. However, Houston’s defense limited the damage, allowing only one touchdown in the final two quarters. The Eagles trailed 14-28 at the half, and despite their late scoring, the deficit proved too large to close.

Final Stretches

Houston extended their lead to 35-14 in the third quarter with a 23-yard pass from Weigman to Walker. In the fourth quarter, Amare Thomas caught an 11-yard pass from Weigman to make it 42-21. Georgia Southern’s River Helms caught a five-yard pass from Johnson to cut the lead to 42-28, but the clock ran out with the Cougars holding the advantage. The result improves Houston’s record to 3-1, while Georgia Southern falls to 1-3.

Sources

ESPN