Inniss, McKinley Move to Forefront

MINNEAPOLIS — Vaughn Inniss rushed for 129 yards and Jason McKinley threw for two touchdowns to lead the Cougars to a 45-43 victory over Minnesota on Saturday night.

Jay McGuire and Ryan Burton each scored twice, and Micha Malone returned a fumble for a score for the Cougars (1-3).

Inniss, a junior college transfer, started in place of Ketric Sanford, who had an emergency appendectomy on Tuesday.

McKinley had been splitting time at quarterback with Tyson Helton, son of Houston Coach Kim Helton.

McKinley completed 17 of 26 passes for 310 yards and Orlando Iglesias caught eight for 161 yards.

Corey Sauter’s 13-yard run brought Minnesota (2-2) to 28-21 early in the third quarter, and it appeared the Gophers would get a chance to tie it after two holding penalties had the Cougars looking at second-and-33 at its 46.

But McKinley completed two passes to get the first down and three plays later hooked up with Burton for the touchdown that gave the Cougars a 35-21 lead.

Mike Parker recovered a fumble and Houston cashed it in seven plays later on Jay McGuire’s one-yard run.

Minnesota got as close as 42-35 after Suter’s six-yard run with 10:32 to play, but missed an opportunity for another scoring drive when Antoine Henderson was stopped on fourth-and-one at the Minnesota 38.

Houston took over and boosted its margin to 10 points on Sebastian Villereal’s 27-yard field goal with 2:48 left.

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NEXT FOR UCLA

WHO: Houston

WHERE: Rose Bowl

WHEN: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

TV: Fox Sp. West

RADIO: AM 1150