Twelve seconds to victory. How UH beat West Virginia on Hail Mary

How the Cougars overcame what appeared to be a certain gut-wrenching loss and dialed up one of the school’s most improbable wins in years.

Three seconds left.

At the 49-yard line.

The Throw.

The Tip.

The Catch.

The Celebration.

Quarterback Donovan Smith heaved a pass from near midfield that was tipped into the hands of Stephon Johnson as time expired to give the Cougars a thrilling 41-39 victory over West Virginia on Thursday night at TDECU Stadium.

“I don’t know how that happened at the end,” coach Dana Holgorsen said. “I guess the football gods were on our side. We’ll take it.”

After lopsided losses to TCU and Texas Tech to begin Big 12 play, UH (3-3, 1-2) led 35-24 with 7½ minutes left following touchdown catches by Samuel Brown and Johnson.

Then the 11-point lead disappeared. West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene scored on an 8-yard run with 3:42 left and, following a UH punt, the Mountaineers marched 88 yards in 65 seconds. A 50-yard catch-and-run by Hudson Clement put West Virginia ahead 39-35 with 12 seconds left.

“I don’t think I could have been more mad and happier in a matter of less than a minute,” Holgorsen said.

On the touchdown, West Virginia was called for a celebration penalty, pushing the kickoff back 15 yards.

“The celebration penalty after the last touchdown is kind of a microcosm to me of the game,” West Virginia coach Neal Brown said. “We don’t get that celebration penalty, which is completely asinine for us to take our helmets off. That gave them an opportunity to get into scoring position.”

On the sideline, Smith prepared for one last chance.

“There is 12 seconds on the clock,” he said. “A lot of people may think we’re out of it.”

All along, Smith said he leaned on his faith. He began to recite his daily devotional on the sideline.

“Do not fear, for I will help you.”

Then he remembered what his mother always told him.

“The game is not over until the fat lady sings,” he said.

Stacy Sneed took the kickoff at the UH 25-yard line and returned it 18 yards to the 43-yard line.

Seven seconds left.

Smith found Dalton Carnes near the sideline for an 8-yard gain — one of his 16 straight completions to end the game.

Three seconds left.

On the final play, Smith took the snap, avoided a defender and rolled to his left, twisting his hips to heave the ball as a Jared Bartlett closed in.

“I just saw my guys down there, so I just tried to put enough air on it and try and get it in the end zone,” Smith said.

“Just Hail Mary,” Johnson said when asked if the play had a name. “Go get the ball.”

The Hail Mary was designed with two jumpers, in this case Samuel Brown and Joseph Manjack IV, and Johnson and Carnes as trailers.

Manjack got past one defender and found himself near the goal line, surrounded by three other West Virginia players. Johnson, who cut across from the far side, was pushed from behind and briefly stumbled into safety Marcis Floyd. At that moment, Manjack jumped for the ball, along with the Mountaineers’ Anthony Wilson and Hershey McLaurin, and tipped it with his left hand at the goal line. Johnson, whose nickname is “Boogie,” turned at the last possible second, snagged the ball around the 1-yard line and stepped into the end zone for the game-winning catch.

“As soon I turned around, I just saw Manjack make a great play on the ball and tip it,” Johnson said. “I was like, ‘I’ve got to grab it. It’s right there in my face.’”

Johnson took a few steps before he was mobbed by teammates.

“I still don’t know how to feel about it,” Johnson said.

Smith stood motionless near midfield.

“I was in shock,” he said. “There’s no way that just happened.”

Safety AJ Haulcy, who had a season-high 15 tackles, had an obstructed view on the sideline. Only when he saw the referee raise his arms to signal a touchdown did he know the Cougars had won.

“A helmet came flying down and almost hit me,” Haulcy said. “I ran onto the field to celebrate.”

UH’s student section spilled onto the field.

“I looked around and see people running past me,” Smith said. “I found Dana and started hugging him and jumping with him like we were little kids.”

Houston 41, West Virginia 39.

A season on the brink of collapse suddenly feels like it has life.

Plenty remains to fix.

But for one night, the Cougars could party. Just call it “Boogie Nights.”

“Our backs were against the wall,” Holgorsen said. “It was pretty unbelievable.”