Houston Cougars win Texas Bowl thriller, down LSU 38-35

Houston quarterback Conner Weigman hands off the ball to
running back to DJ Butler in the Cougars win over LSU.
Photo by Darla S Tamulitism La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (December 27, 2025) The Houston Cougars capped off a big season with a 38-35 win over the LSU Tigers in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on Saturday night. It was a close and exciting game that fans will remember for a long time.

The Tigers jumped out to an early lead and looked strong at first. On the very first play of the game, Barion Brown returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown to put the Tigers up 7-0. LSU then added another score to make it 14-0 in the first quarter.

However, the Cougars did not give up. Quarterback Conner Weigman, who was selected the game's MVP, as voted by the media, led a big comeback for the Cougars. He was sharp all night, throwing four touchdown passes and finishing with 236 passing yards. Weigman connected with key receivers like Amare Thomas and Tanner Koziol to help Houston erase the early deficit.

In the post game press conference, the UH quarterback was asked about his favorite moment on the field, from the celebration or in the locker room; something that he thought was goin to stick with him.

Yeah, just some of the seniors; Tanner (Kozios), Dean (Conners), Matt (Wykoff), all those guys; that was the last time I'm going to be able to play football with those guys. It meant a lot to me. Those are my brothers.

Houston took the lead and did not look back. Ethan Sanchez hit a 25-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter to push the Cougars ahead 31-28. Then Dean Connors scored a 20-yard rushing touchdown with just over two minutes left, making it 38-28 and giving Houston a big boost.

LSU tried to rally late, and Zavion Thomas scored a rushing touchdown with about a minute to play, cutting the deficit to 38-35. But Houston recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock to seal the victory.

The win gave Houston a 10-3 final season record with the Tigers finish 7-6,

UTSA dominates FIU 57-20 in First Responder Bowl

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

DALLAS, TEXAS (December 26, 2025)  The UTSA Roadrunners put on a big show Friday night at the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, beating the Florida International Panthers 57-20 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas. UTSA came from behind and scored 38 straight points to take control of the game after FIU jumped out to an early lead.

FIU looked strong early. The Panthers scored first on a touchdown pass from Joe Pesansky and then seemed to take charge when Maguire Anderson returned a punt 97 yards for another score. For a moment, the Game looked like it might be close.

But UTSA answered with a big push. Quarterback Owen McCown started the comeback with a short run by Will Henderson III, then connected with Henderson on a 40-yard touchdown pass to tie the game. After a field goal, McCown threw a 23-yard touchdown to Devin McCuin to give UTSA the lead. Running back A’Marion Peterson added a 10-yard score to put the Roadrunners up 31-14 at halftime.

In the second half, UTSA kept scoring. Henderson scored again on a short run, and McCown added another passing touchdown. Backup players also got in on the scoring action, including Bryson Donnell with a touchdown run. The Roadrunners built a big lead and never looked back.

McCown had a strong night, finishing 18 of 28 for 295 yards and three touchdowns. UTSA’s offense outgained FIU 481 yards to 255 yards, showing its power on both run and pass plays.

The win gives UTSA its seventh straight winning season and third bowl win in a row. For FIU, the season still ended with a 7-6 record, and the bowl appearance marked the Panthers’ first postseason game since 2019.

Texas Longhorns fire two staff members over sports betting breach

By Chris Price
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

AUSTIN, TEXAS (December 25, 2025) It is being reported by MySA.com that The University of Texas at Austin has fired two staff members in its athletic department after discovering sports betting rule violations, school officials confirmed this week.

The issues happened between January and October 2025 when six people tied to the athletics department placed 121 bets totaling just under $1,100 on daily fantasy sports platforms. Although these sites are legal in Texas, NCAA rules still bar people connected to college teams from placing any wagers.

The Longhorns self-reported the violations after finding them in internal reviews. Two of the six people involved were immediately fired. One person had already left the university, and three others remain employed.

Some of the wagers were tied to Texas Longhorn sporting events, including Longhorn women’s basketball and softball games. 

Texas A&M secures NCAA volleyball title with 3-0 win over Kentucky

By Chris Price
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI (December 21, 2025) The Texas A&M Aggies beat the top-seeded Kentucky Wildcats 3-0 to win their first-ever NCAA women's volleyball championship. The game, which was played at T-Mobile Center. It was an all-SEC final, with both teams from the same conference fighting for the big prize.

The match was exciting from the start. In the first set, Kentucky jumped ahead early, leading 10-4. The Aggies looked in trouble, but they fought back hard. Ifenna Cos-Okpalla made big kills and blocks to spark the comeback. Texas A&M won the close set 26-24.

After that, the Aggies took control. In the second set, their strong blocks stopped Kentucky's attacks. Players like Kyndal Stowers and Ifenna Cos-Okpalla kept scoring. Texas A&M won easily, 25-15. Kentucky made too many mistakes and could not catch up.

The third set was similar. Texas A&M built a big lead and never let go. Logan Lednicky and Stowers added key points. Cos-Okpalla ended the match with a final kill, winning the set 25-20.

Kyndal Stowers and Logan Lednicky also played well on defense; forcing Kentucky into errors throughout the game.

This win was sweet revenge for Aggies after dropping their match against Kentucky on October 8 by the score of 1-3 (25-21, 22-25, 15-25, 25-27) in conference play.

DeSoto downs C.E. King 55-27 to capture UIL 6A title

Submitted Photo

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (December 20, 2025) In the UIL Class 6A Division II state championship game on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, the DeSoto Eagles beat the C.E. King Panthers 55-27 to win the state title.

DeSoto started strong and played great on both offense and defense. Right from the first quarter, the Eagles took control of the game. SaRod Baker scored the first touchdown on a short run. He added another long touchdown later, helping DeSoto build a big early lead.

DeSoto’s Legend Howell was the star on offense. He threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns. Ethan Feaster caught many passes and scored two touchdowns himself.

The Eagles also made big plays on defense. Damarion Ross intercepted a pass and ran it back 94 yards for a touchdown. That score helped put DeSoto even farther ahead before halftime.

Even though C.E. King scored some touchdowns in the second half, DeSoto stayed in control and never let the lead slip. King had a great season, and just getting to the state title game was a big accomplishment for the Panthers.

North Shore wins tough defensive game, downs Duncanville 10-7 for 6A-1 title

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (December 20, 2025) North Shore High School won a hard-fought game over Duncanville 10-7 to become UIL Class 6A Division 1 state champions. The game was played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington in front of 39,436 fans.

The first half was a defensive battle. Neither team could score and the game stayed 0-0 at halftime. North Shore finally broke the tie early in the second half. Quarterback Kaleb Maryland threw a long 44-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Bocard (shown right). That made it 7-0.

Later in the fourth quarter, Daniel Cruz kicked a 27-yard field goal to make it 10-0. Duncanville did not give up. With about six minutes left, Trenton Yancey threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Zach Turner. That cut the lead to 10-7 and brought Duncanville close.

Duncanville moved the ball late in the game, but North Shore’s defense made the big stop when it mattered. With less than a minute left, North Shore stopped Duncanville on fourth down to seal the win.

This was the sixth time North Shore and Duncanville met in the state title game since 2018. North Shore now leads the rivalry with four wins in those six matchups.

South Oak Cliff tops Richmond Randle for UIL 5A Division II state title

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (December 20, 2025)  The South Oak Cliff Bears won the UIL Class 5A Division II state football championship, beating the Richmond Randle Lions 35-19 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Saturday. South Oak Cliff finished the season 15-1 and brought home its third state title in school history.

From the start, the Bears played strong offense and defense. South Oak Cliff’s defense made life tough for Randle’s offense all game. Randle did not score an offensive touchdown until late in the fourth quarter. Their star running back, Landen Williams-Callis, finished with 121 rushing yards and one touchdown. He also scored on a 100-yard kickoff return in the first quarter.

The big star for South Oak Cliff was Mikail Trotter. Trotter ran for 143 yards and three touchdowns, and all of his scoring runs were longer than 30 yards. He helped the Bears get ahead early and kept them in control.

Quarterback Jayden Williams was sharp, completing 12 of 13 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown. That efficient play made it hard for Randle’s defense to slow down South Oak Cliff’s offense.

Even though Randle fought hard, South Oak Cliff’s strong play all day made the difference. Randle showed effort and talent, but the Bears made the plays needed to win a state championship

North Shore downs Dickinson 46-29

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS  (December 6, 2025) The North Shore Mustangs knocked off the Dickinson Gators 46–29 in the quarterfinals of the UIL Class 6A Division I playoffs on Friday night at TDECU Stadium.

From the start, North Shore’s offense showed they had too much firepower. Quarterback Kaleb Maryland threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Jaylen Bocard (shown above) early in the first quarter to put the Mustangs up 7–0.

In the second quarter, North Shore kept rolling. Maryland hit wide-out Aubery Johnson on a 53-yard strike and later ran in a 26-yard touchdown himself, stretching the lead. Dickinson responded right before halftime when senior quarterback Lorenzo Aguirre found Ja’Marion Payne in the end zone; bringing the score to 20–10 at the break.

In the second half, North Shore turned up the pressure again. They scored two touchdowns in the third quarter; one by Maryland on the ground and another on a pass to receiver La’Damian Defreeze — widening their lead to 34–10. Dickinson tried to rally after recovering a fumble, with Washington hauling in a touchdown catch.

In the fourth quarter, North Shore added a field goal and another rushing score to make it 44–23. Dickinson scored once more before time expired, but the Mustangs sealed the win when a blocked extra point was returned for two points.

With the win, North Shore advances to the regional semifinals where they will face the Lake Travis Cavaliers on Saturday, December 13 at Aldine's Thorne Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.

HCU Huskies fall to Georgia Southern, 80-62

Photo courtesy of HCU Media Relations Department

By Chris Price
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

STATESBORO, GEORGIA  (November 29, 2025) On Saturday, the HCU Huskies fell to Georgia Southern Eagles 80-62 at the Hill Convocation Center. The game stayed close for about 30 minutes, but the Eagles pulled away late.

Early in the game, the Huskies got a strong start. Elijah Brooks (shown left) dunked the ball, and Demarco Bethea added a basket to give HCU a 6-5 lead. Later, Brooks scored again on a fast break, giving the Huskies a 14-12 edge with about 9:43 left in the first half.

But the Eagles fought back. Spudd Webb scored seven straight for Georgia Southern and helped lead a run that put the home team ahead 19-14. By halftime, the Eagles led 34-27.

In the second half, the Huskies tried to climb back in the game. Ryan Bartley hit a three, and Bethea scored inside, cutting the lead. But Georgia Southern kept hitting shots, including several three-pointers, forcing HCU into turnovers, turning those into easy points.

For HCU, Brooks led with 12 points. Bartley and Bethea each added 11. But HCU struggled with shooting, only 41%, and Georgia Southern was sharper, hitting 48% from the field and 40% from three-point range.

The loss drops HCU to 4-3 on the season. The Huskies will return to Texas for their next game on Tuesday against the North Texas Mean Green in Denton.

HCU Huskies outlast The Citadel 72-65

Photo courtesy of HCU Media Relations 

By Chris Price
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA (November 26, 2025) The HCU Huskies men's basketball team raced out fast and never let up, beating The Citadel Bulldogs 72–65 on Wednesday night to split the back-to-back series in Charleston. 

The Huskies opened hot. An early three-point play by Kylin Green (shown above right) and quick buckets from Demarco Bethea pushed their lead to 14–5. Moments later, a loud one-handed dunk by Mambourou Mara made it 19–5 with about 12 minutes left in the first half.

The Bulldogs fought back before halftime. Consecutive threes from one of their players and a last-second jumper cut the lead to just 3 by intermission; 35–32.

In the second half, the Huskies built a bigger advantage. A three from Green, a basket by Bethea, and a triple from Trent Johnson pushed the lead to 7. Later, three-pointers from Mara and Elijah Brooks made it a double-digit lead and forced a Citadel timeout.

The Bulldogs came back, tying the game 60–60 with about 5:40 left. But Houston Christian closed strong. Brooks scored inside, Green buried a late three, and Mara added a three-point play after a rebound. A final 12–5 run sealed the win for the Huskies.

On the night, Bethea led HCU with 14 points (perfect shooting), while Green scored 13, Mara had 12, Brooks added 11, and Johnson chipped in 10. All five scored in double digits.

The Huskies now improve to 4–2 on the season. Their five-game road stretch continues Saturday when they take on Georgia Southern Eagles in Georgia.

Huskies fall to Cardinals in tough season closer

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 22, 2025) The HCU Huskies wrapped up their football season with a hard-fought loss to the Incarnate Word Cardinals by the score of 31-10 at Husky Stadium. Despite some bright spots, the Huskies couldn't overcome UIW's strong ground game and timely scores. This defeat capped a challenging year for HCU, ending with a 2-10 record overall and 1-7 in the Southland Conference.

The game started with promise for the Huskies. UIW struck first in the opening quarter, marching 63 yards in six plays. A penalty kept their drive alive, leading to a 33-yard catch by Josh Lorick and a 2-yard touchdown run by Jaylon Spears. That put the Cardinals up 7-0 early. But HCU fired right back. Quarterback Maddox Kopp led a sharp drive, mixing a 4-yard rush with a big 42-yard pass to Sam Peiffer. It ended with an 11-yard touchdown toss to Ja'Ryan Wallace, tying the game at 7-7 with 7:44 left in the first.

UIW wasn't done. Before the quarter ended, quarterback Richard Torres hit Chedon James for a 50-yard touchdown pass, giving the Cardinals a 14-7 edge. The second quarter saw UIW add to their lead with a steady 12-play drive, capped by a 33-yard field goal from Will Faris. The score sat at 17-7 at halftime after both teams' defenses stepped up with key stops.

The Huskies' defense shone in spots, but UIW pulled away in the third. The Cardinals drove from their own 15-yard line, mixing two 30-yard plays and a catch by James. A wildcat run by Jalen Walthall sparked life, and after a brief stall, a penalty gave them new chances. Spears powered in from 12 yards out for a 24-7 lead. HCU got a break when UIW fumbled a punt return, but they settled for a 22-yard field goal by Ryan Zuckert, making it 24-10.

In the fourth, UIW controlled the clock with a 10-play, 56-yard drive over more than six minutes. It finished with a 3-yard pass from Torres to Walthall, sealing the 31-10 win.

Standout Huskies included Kopp, who went 13-for-21 passing for 156 yards and one touchdown, plus a few rushes. Backup Jake Weir added 116 passing yards on 6-of-15. Wideout Ja'Ryan Wallace had a career-high day with three catches for 130 yards and his score. Running back Xai'Shaun Edwards rushed 12 times for 40 yards, closing out a record-breaking season with 1,019 total rushing yards—the first Husky to hit 1,000—and 12 touchdowns. On defense, linebacker Rodney Dansby led with 13 tackles, pushing his career total to 446, second all-time at HCU.

For UIW, Spears rushed for 93 yards and two scores, while Kobe Dillon added 110 yards on the ground. Torres was solid, 16-of-29 for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Lorick caught seven passes for 68 yards, and James had three for 83 yards and one score.

HCU Huskies win Southland Conference tourney

Story and photo by Chris Price
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

BEAUMONT, TEXAS (November 9, 2025) The HCU Huskies women’s soccer team completed a dream run on Sunday afternoon, winning the 2025 Southland Conference Championship with a thrilling 1–0 overtime victory over defending champion Stephen F. Austin at the LU Soccer Complex in Beaumont,

Junior forward Olivia Rossman scored the golden goal in the 99th minute, taking a pass from Ella Remy and firing it into the net to give the Huskies their first conference title since 2016. Rossman’s strong play throughout the tournament earned her Most Valuable Player honors as she helped lead HCU to three straight postseason wins.

The victory gave the Huskies their third Southland crown (2014, 2016, 2025) and kept their perfect 3–0 record in championship matches — all against Stephen F. Austin. It was also the first title match to reach overtime since 2015 and the first to end in extra time since 2010.

Goalkeeper Emmy McKeon shined again with eight saves, earning her third straight shutout of the tournament. The defensive unit — led by Jordan Bushnell, Alexia Murillo, and Gisele Kehres — held off an SFA offense that had been chasing its fifth league title.

The win marks a major milestone for head coach Nick Whitting, who claimed his first Southland championship in only his second season.

With the victory, the fifth-seeded Huskies secured an automatic berth to the 2025 NCAA Tournament, with their opponent to be revealed Monday at 3 p.m. on ncaa.com.

Venezuela outsmarts Australia in tight friendly win

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 14, 2025) In a hard-fought international friendly at Shell Energy Stadium, Venezuela secured a well-deserved 1-0 victory over Australia, dealing a blow to the Socceroos' preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The match highlighted Venezuela's transitional phase under interim coaches Oswaldo Vizcarrondo and Fernando Aristiguieta, while exposing some vulnerabilities in Australia's experimental lineup.

The game's lone goal arrived in the 38th minute, with winger Ender Echenique delivering a precise low cross from the left flank after sneaking past Australia's Craig Goodwin. Forward Jesús Ramírez, making a well-timed run into the box, tapped home from close range. Ramírez's finish was clinical, capitalizing on a momentary lapse in Australia's backline.

Venezuela dictated the tempo for much of the contest, enjoying approximately 65% possession and racking up over 400 passes in Australia's half compared to the Socceroos' 154. They generated the majority of chances, forcing debutant goalkeeper Patrick Beach into several acrobatic saves; including a stunning reaction stop from point-blank range early in the second half. La Vinotinto's back four, anchored by Jhon Chancellor and Mikel Villanueva, remained compact and disciplined, frustrating Australia's attempts to penetrate through the middle.

For Australia, it was a chastening evening under new coach Tony Popovic, who opted for a youthful, experimental 3-4-3 formation to test fringe players ahead of tougher fixtures like their upcoming clash with Colombia. Four newcomers made their senior debuts: goalkeeper Patrick Beach), defender Paul Okon-Engstler, center-back Kai Trewin, and forward Mohamed Toure. Beach, in particular, shone with his shot-stopping, but the side as a whole lacked cohesion, managing just 34% possession and failing to register a shot on target until the final 15 minutes.

Substitutes like Martin Boyle, Al Hassan Toure, and Riley McGree injected some late urgency, creating a flurry of half-chances] including a free-kick opportunity that skimmed the wall, but it proved too little, too late.

HCU Huskies f all to SFA 50-3 on Homecoming Weekend

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 8, 2025) The HCU Huskies entered their 2025 Homecoming Weekend with plenty of hope, but it turned into a rough afternoon. On Saturday, the Huskies fell 50-3 at home to the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks, ranked No. 17 in the country.

From the first moments, things went wrong. The Lumberjacks forced a punt on Houston Christian’s opening drive and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown. They then converted a two-point try to take an 8-0 lead. They added another score later in the first quarter when quarterback Gavin Rutherford found Isaiah Davis on a 14-yard touchdown pass, giving SFA a 15-0 edge heading into the second quarter.

The Huskies got on the board early in the second when freshman kicker Ryan Zuckert drilled a 45-yard field goal, cutting the lead to 15-3.  But the momentum didn’t last. The Lumberjacks answered quickly with a 17-yard pass to Kylon Harris, and just before halftime, they punched in a short goal-line run to take a 29-3 lead into the break.

In the second half, Houston Christian continued to struggle. Their offense gained just 134 total yards for the entire game.  Starting quarterback Reilly Garcia completed 12 of 19 passes for 132 yards in his first start of the season.  On the ground, the Huskies were held to just 2 rushing yards.  On defense, linebacker Trent Zappe led the team with 10 tackles and Rodney Dansby had nine.

For HCU, the result drops their record to 2-8 overall and 1-5 in the Southland Conference. They’ll need to regroup quickly, as next Saturday they travel to face East Texas A&M Lumberjacks in Commerce with a 4 p.m. kickoff.

La Porte Bulldogs roll past Pasadena Eagles, 63-14

Photo and story by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

LA PORTE,TEXAS (November 7, 2025)  On Friday night, the La Porte Bulldogs downed the Pasadena Eagles at home, putting up a dominant score of 63-14.

Right from the start, La Porte came out strong. The Bulldogs had control of the game with big plays on offense and solid teamwork on defense. Pasadena, struggling this season, just couldn’t keep pace. La Porte’s record now improves to 9-1 on the year.

One of La Porte’s stars, Joshua Wells, threw for 138 yards and four touchdowns, a career high. Receiver Peyton Smith added 115 yards and two scores. The Bulldogs made the most of their chances and did not let Pasadena back in. The Eagles finish their season at 1-9. 

The Bulldogs will find out their opponent in the first round of the playoffs this weekend.

Fleet Week Houston postponed until 2026

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By Chris Price
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (October 26, 2025) The much-anticipated first-ever Fleet Week Houston has been postponed and will now take place in 2026 instead of this year.

The event was originally scheduled for November 5-12, 2025 and was meant to celebrate the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps, and the U.S. Coast Guard with ship tours, community events, and more.

Officials said the decision comes as a result of the ongoing federal government shutdown, which created “significant challenges” for making everything happen as planned.

John Whitmire, the Mayor of Houston, said the rescheduling is disappointing but gives the city and its partners more time to plan a high-quality experience.

No new dates have been announced yet. Organizers with the steering committee, the Port of Houston Authority, and military representatives said they are working together to pick the new timeline and will share it once confirmed.