HOUSTON – One might suggest it is hard to find a bright spot for the Houston Texans amid a 40-13 beating by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth and final preseason game, but rookie cornerback Andre Hal did his best to make his mark on the field Thursday night despite the team’s shortcomings.

About six minutes after 49ers linebacker Chris Borland returned an interception thrown by Texans rookie quarterback Tom Savage in the third quarter, seventh-round rookie draft pick Hal returned the favor taking San Francisco quarterback Josh Johnson’s intercepted pass 77 yards for Houston’s lone touchdown in the game.

"Well, guy ran a hitch," Hal said about his big play. "I guess it went through his hands or something. I saw the ball, I grabbed it and I took off with it. I saw the end zone; I just wanted to score with it."

To make the feat even more impressive, it was Hal’s second pick-six of the preseason, helping him possibly earn a spot on the regular season roster when it is cut down to 53 players by Saturday.

"Since day one I was trying to make the team," Hal said. "I tried to come in, compete with the other guys, learn form the other guys, learn the defense as fast as I can so I can get on the field and compete."

Follow Shawn Ramsey on Twitter: @ShawnPRamsey