HOUSTON — Houston spent nearly three quarters searching for points Saturday. Once the Cougars finally found the end zone, UCF had no answer.
Conner Weigman rushed for three second-half touchdowns and No. 20 Houston erased a 17-point deficit to defeat UCF 27-17 at TDECU Stadium, scoring 27 unanswered points to secure its first Big 12 victory of the season.
Houston improved to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play after an opening half filled with missed opportunities. The Cougars reached inside the UCF 10 three times in the second quarter but came away empty, including two fourth-down stops and a fumble into the end zone.
UCF stretched its lead to 17-0 midway through the third quarter before Weigman finally got Houston moving.
The senior quarterback capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive with a 19-yard touchdown run, giving the Cougars their first points with 3:38 remaining in the third.
Houston’s defense then provided the play that changed the afternoon.
Latreveon McCutchin tipped Keyone Jenkins’ pass into the air, secured the interception and returned it to the UCF 2. Two plays later, Weigman scored from a yard out, suddenly cutting the Knights’ advantage to 17-14.
“We did not play very good in the first half, but we played really well in the second half,” Houston coach Willie Fritz said. “There’s one bright spot, we have another 30 minutes to play.”
Houston carried that momentum into the fourth quarter. After the defense forced a three-and-out, Weigman directed an 11-play, 62-yard drive and finished it with another 1-yard touchdown run, giving the Cougars their first lead at 21-17.
The Houston defense took care of the rest, holding UCF to just 48 yards in the fourth quarter and minus-6 yards rushing. Jonathan Dimas added field goals from 40 and 46 yards to put the game away.
Weigman finished with 239 passing yards and 50 on the ground despite battling illness.
“He was sick as a dog, but he played through it and played really well in the second half,” Fritz said.
Houston finished with 393 yards while controlling the football for more than 33 minutes.
The Cougars now take their momentum back on the road Saturday when they travel to Kansas State for another Big 12 test.
