Jaeger’s 5 Field Goals Help Washington Beat Houston After 2 Losses
HOUSTON — Washington kicker Jeff Jaeger had a school-record five field goals, and fullback Rick Fenney scored on a one-yard run as the Huskies ended a season-opening two-game losing streak with a 29-12 victory over Houston Saturday night.
Jaeger, the Huskies’ leading scorer the past two seasons, kicked 38 and 19 yarders and Fenney, returning from an ankle injury, scored in the second quarter as Washington led, 13-10, at halftime.
Jaeger had a 34-yarder on the first drive of the third quarter. He added a 41-yarder later in the quarter. The latter score was set up when Bo Yates tipped Houston quarterback Gerald Landry’s pitch attempt, and David Rill recovered at the Houston 18 with 7:49 left.
Houston (0-2) made it 19-12 in the fourth quarter when Cougar Larry Ball blocked a punt out of the end zone for a safety.
Houston took the following kickoff and drove to the Huskies’ 21 before running back Sloan Hood fumbled, and linebacker Ron Hadley recovered. Washington drove to the Houston eight, where Jaeger added a 26-yard field goal to break his own school record for most field goals in one game. That made it 22-12.
Moments later, tailback Vince Weathersby ran 15 yards with 1:55 remaining to turn the game into a rout.
The Huskies lost to Oklahoma State and Brigham Young for their first 0-2 start since 1975.
The Cougars took a 3-0 lead on a 43-yard field goal by Chip Browndyke.
The Huskies took the ensuing kickoff on their 32 and moved 42 yards in six plays, with Jaeger kicking a 38-yard field goal with just under eight minutes left in the first quarter to tie it, 3-3.
Houston then took a 10-3 lead on a seven-yard pass from Landry to Michael Simmons early in the second quarter.
Washington fought back to tie it on Fenney’s one-yard dive with 7:13 to go in the half in a drive that included a 10-yard run by Aaron Jenkins on a fourth-down fake punt from the Husky 27.
Washington went ahead, 13-10, with 46 seconds left in the half on Jaeger’s 19-yard field goal.
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