Patrick Overmyer set an FBS record for touchdown receptions by a tight end with four scores in the University of Houston’s 35-16 win at Kansas State on Saturday, earning him the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week. His performance tied the FBS mark and made him the seventh tight end in FBS history to catch four touchdowns in a single game.
Overmyer leads all tight ends nationally halfway through the regular season with six touchdown receptions. He is also second among tight ends in receptions with 33 and receiving yards with 393. After the game, Overmyer credited his coaches and teammates for putting him in position to succeed. “It’s awesome,” he said. “But I just want to say thank you to my coaches and my team. They’re the ones that put me in that opportunity, and I was lucky enough to be there when my name was called. So credit goes to them.”
The Cougars also celebrated a record-setting performance from punter Liam Dougherty, who was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week. Dougherty averaged 59.3 yards on three punts against Kansas State, surpassing the school record of 55.3 yards previously set by Jimmy McClary in 2003. One of Dougherty’s punts traveled 74 yards, the sixth-longest in Houston history.
Meanwhile, wide receiver Amare Thomas has gone two games without scoring a touchdown after a strong start to the season. Thomas, an All-Big 12 selection last year, scored in each of the first four games, catching 23 passes for 287 yards during that stretch. In the last two games, he has six catches for 74 yards on 13 targets. Coach Willie Fritz acknowledged the drop in production and said the team needs to get Thomas back on track. “He’s a very good player for us,” Fritz said.
Fritz pointed out that the emergence of other receivers, including tight ends Overmyer and Luke McGary, has contributed to the shift in offensive focus. “The more guys that get involved, the harder it is for a team to double-team, or key a guy or adjust their coverage towards one guy,” the coach explained. He also noted that missed opportunities when Thomas was open have played a part.
Freshman running back John Hebert is expected to return to action after recovering from surgery for a torn ACL. Hebert suffered the injury on kickoff coverage late in Houston’s Oct. 3 win against UCF. Fritz said Hebert will be ready for summer workouts starting in June. “We think he’s going to be full-go when the summer begins,” said Fritz. Hebert had his best game of the season in Week 2 against Southern, scoring both a 20-yard touchdown catch and a 7-yard touchdown run.
The Cougars are relatively healthy overall, with linebacker Jaden Yates and wide receiver Muizz Tounkara among notable players missing Monday’s practice. Fritz described the team’s injury situation as “pretty good shape.”
Off the field, Houston set a fundraising record with more than $1.4 million raised at its Oct. 2 Hall of Honor Gala, held at the Post Oak Hotel. The event drew 750 guests, and the funds will support scholarships for over 400 student-athletes across 17 varsity sports. Quarterback Conner Weigman’s game-worn helmet sold for $40,000 as part of the Gridiron Galaxy collection auction.
Looking ahead, ESPN and Fox will decide the kickoff time for Houston’s Oct. 24 game at Utah within a six-day selection window, according to the Big 12.
According to Yahoo Sports.
