Kyle Poynter rushed for three touchdowns and threw for another score to lead the Houston Tigers to their first victory of 2009.
Tailback Justin Schmidt had a rushing score and interception return for a touchdown in Houston’s 42-27 victory Friday night at Pleasant Hope.
Poynter, who ran for a team-high 109 yards on 15 carries, had rushing scores of 7, 6 and 8 yards. He also connected with Ridge Miller on a third-quarter touchdown throw and finished 6-of-12 passing for 126 yards.
Schmidt, who sat out the previous game with a concussion, scored on a 5-yard run in the second quarter and returned an interception for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. He had 18 rushes for 97 yards and added three catches for a team-best 65 yards.
Pleasant Hope, which lost its 29th straight game, scored on its opening drive when 276-pound fullback David Abrudan scored from 12 yards out.
Houston (1-5) answered on its first drive. Poynter and Schmidt had 34- and 31-yard runs, respectively, on consecutive runs to set up Poynter’s 7-yard touchdown run.
The Pirates failed to convert a fake punt on fourth-and-long from their end zone, and Schmidt scored from 5 yards out on the next play to put the Tigers ahead 14-7 at the half.
Poynter’s second rushing score and pass to Miller made it 28-7. Houston led 35-13 on Poynter’s 8-yard score with 3:33 left in the third quarter.
Pleasant Hope scored with seven-tenths of a second left in the game.
Houston 8 6 21 7 – 42
Pleasant Hope 7 0 6 14 – 27
First Quarter
PH – Abrudan 12 run (Arciniegas kick).
HOU – Poynter 7 run (Poynter run)
Second Quarter
HOU – Schmidt 5 run (run failed)
Third Quarter
HOU – Poynter 6 run (Poynter kick)
HOU – Miller pass from Poynter (Poynter kick)
PH – Abrudan 8 run (kick failed)
HOU – Poynter 8 run (Poynter kick)
Fourth Quarter
PH – Abrudan run (run failed)
HOU – Schmidt interception return (Poynter kick)
PH – Finch run (Wolfe run).