Weigman's Late Surge Lifts Houston Over UCF 27-17

A Decisive Second-Half Rally

Conner Weigman’s persistence in the second half proved decisive as No. 20 Houston defeated the UCF Knights 27-17 on Saturday at TDECU Stadium. The Cougars trailed by ten points entering the fourth quarter but outscored the Knights 13-0 in the final period to secure the win.

Weigman was the engine of the comeback, scoring on three separate rushing touchdowns during the latter stages of the game. His efforts helped Houston overcome an early deficit to improve their record to 4-1, while UCF dropped to 3-2.

UCF Builds Early Lead

The Knights established control early, taking a 10-0 lead after the first two quarters. Josh Derry opened the scoring in the first period with a 13-yard reception from Keyone Jenkins, followed by a successful kick by Will Stone. UCF extended their advantage in the second quarter when Stone converted a 30-yard field goal.

The Knights maintained their offensive momentum into the third quarter, with Jenkins rushing for a 5-yard touchdown to make it 17-0. However, Houston began to answer before the half ended, but the game truly shifted in the third period’s latter minutes.

Houston’s Scoring Surge

The third quarter marked the turning point. Weigman struck first with a 19-yard run, setting the stage for a dramatic sequence. He followed up with a one-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 17-14.

The momentum carried into the fourth quarter, where Weigman added another one-yard score to give Houston the lead at 21-17. Jonathan Dimas sealed the victory with two field goals, a 40-yard kick and a 46-yard strike, ensuring the Cougars held on for the 27-17 final.

Key Performances

Weigman led Houston’s offense, completing 18 of 33 passes for 239 yards. Re'Shaun Sanford II contributed on the ground with 62 rushing yards on 18 carries, while Patrick Overmyer provided a key receiving presence with 76 yards on six catches. For UCF, Keyone Jenkins threw for 253 yards on 23 of 35 completions, with one touchdown and one interception.

Duke Watson rushed for 50 yards on nine carries, and Josh Derry hauled in seven passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. The game was played before a crowd of 25,593 at TDECU Stadium.

Sources

ESPN