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Sunday, October 26, 1997

Houston 36, Louisville 22

By MIKE EMBRY / AP Sports Writer

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Jay McGuire rushed for three touchdowns and Jason McKinley passed for two as Houston dealt Louisville its fifth straight loss, 36-22 on Saturday.

McKinley's 38-yard strike to Orlando Iglesias with 4:48 left in the fourth period was the game-winner, giving Houston (3-4, 2-0 Conference USA) a 29-22 lead after Louisville (1-7, 0-3) had rallied from a 22-7 deficit.

Louisville closed to 22-14 on Antonio Roundtree's 1-yard run with 6:35 left in the third quarter and pulled even on Rico Williams' 52-yard scamper with 6:06 left in the contest.

Houston came back quickly on its ensuing possession, driving 64 yards in four plays, capped by Iglesias' touchdown reception.

McKinley added a 32-yard touchdown strike, on fourth-and-4 at the Louisville 32, when he found Robbie Wheeler alone behind the defenders for an easy score with 49 seconds to go.

McGuire scored on 1-yard runs in the first three quarters, the last giving Houston a 22-7 lead at 10:52. Sebastian Villarreal also kicked a 21-yard field goal in the second quarter.

Louisville was assessed a 15-yard penalty for excessive celebration after McKinley's pass on third-and-10 at the 33 was broken up in the end zone. It led to Houston's second touchdown. Four plays later, beginning at the 18, McGuire dived over the middle for a 15-7 lead with 59 seconds left in the half.

Louisville also got a 60-yard touchdown strike from Chris Redman to Arnold Jackson to close to 9-7 with 10:40 remaining in the half. An official inadvertently ran interference, blocking out three defenders as Jackson was crossing from the left to the right side of the field.

McKinley completed 26-of-42 passes for 342 yards, with Wheeler catching nine for 125, as Houston amassed 440 yards. Ketric Sanford rushed 21 times for 62 yards.

Redman hit 27-of-43 for 333 yards and had two intercepted as Louisville picked up 413 yards.