Rice Spoils Yeoman’s Going-Away Party

Houston tried to give Bill Yeoman one last victory, but Quentis Roper stole it in the end.

Roper ran for one touchdown and passed for another in the final 5 minutes 36 seconds Saturday to give Rice a 14-13 win over Houston and Yeoman, who stepped down after 25 seasons as the Cougars’ coach.

While the Owls (4-7 overall, 2-6 in the Southwest Conference) celebrated their comeback victory, Yeoman remained on the field to hear himself praised by school officials, former players and fans.

“For you teary-eyed people, I’m sorry, I’m not,” Yeoman said. “ . . . I’ve had enough Cotton Bowls, East-West games and Hula Bowls to stroke my ego.”

The defeat ended Yeoman’s 25-year tenure with a record of 160-108-8, which ranked him sixth among active NCAA Division I coaches.

Houston (1-10, 0-8) had a 13-0 lead, but Roper spoiled Yeoman’s final game when he ran seven yards for a touchdown and passed 11 yards to Darrell Goolsby for the tying score with 18 seconds left. Freshman Glenn Ray Hines kicked the deciding extra point.