HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Rakeem Cato threw three touchdowns and ran for another and Marshall held off Houston's furious fourth quarter rally to beat the Cougars 44-41 Saturday in a Conference-USA game.
Cato completed 32 of 50 passes for 377 yards.
Marshall (5-6, 4-3) led 31-10 at halftime behind Cato's three touchdown passes and a 69-yard rushing touchdown from Kevin Grooms.
Cato's 5-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter extended Marshall's lead to 38-17, but Crawford Jones threw three touchdowns -- all within a seven minute span -- to tie the game, 38-38, with 10:47 left to play.
Houston's (4-7, 3-4) Matt Hogan converted a 28-yarder to tie the game 41-all with 1:18 left to play but Justin Haig capped off an 8-play, 37-yard drive with his third field goal of the day, this time a 45-yarder, to create the final margin with seven seconds showing.
Jermaine Holmes had 16 tackles for Marshall.
