The Cougars closed out their 2017 football season with a 27-33 loss in the Hawai’i Bowl to the Fresno State Bulldogs. The Cougars finished their season with a record of 7-5 in Major Applewhite’s first year as head coach, dropping their second bowl game in a row.
In a game that was dominated by defense early on, the Cougars were able to move the ball with big plays down the field from the arm of sophomore quarterback D’Eriq King to the hands of senior wide receiver Steven Dunbar.
After Houston and Fresno State exchanged three-and-outs to begin the game, the Cougars were able to pull off a flea flicker on their second drive that went 48 yards from King to Dunbar, bringing the team to the Bulldogs’ one-yard line.