HOUSTON (Interstat) — Conner Weigman rushed for three touchdowns and Houston defeated UCF 27-17 on Saturday at TDECU Stadium in a NCAA Football Bowl Division game. Weigman, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound quarterback, completed 18 of 33 passes for 239 yards and added 13 carries for 50 yards. Houston improved to 4-1. UCF fell to 3-2. The Cougars scored the game’s final 27 points after the Knights built a 17-0 lead.

UCF led 10-0 after Will Stone’s 30-yard field goal with 1:36 remaining in the second quarter. The Knights extended the margin to 17-0 when Keyone Jenkins scored on a 5-yard run with 6:01 remaining in the third quarter. Stone made the extra point. Jenkins, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound Miami, Florida, native, completed 23 of 35 passes for 253 yards with one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown.

Jenkins found Josh Derry for a 13-yard touchdown with 11:17 remaining in the first quarter. J. Yates was injured on the play. Stone added the extra point. Derry, a 5-foot-9, 175-pound receiver, led UCF’s receivers with seven catches for 101 yards and one touchdown. Waden Charles, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound receiver, caught four passes for 68 yards. Tyren Hornes had four receptions for 34 yards. Caleb Flagg, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound safety, added four catches for 23 yards and made two tackles. Jonathan Bibbs, a 6-foot-2, 165-pound receiver, caught one pass for 22 yards. Jordyn Bridgewater, a 6-foot, 170-pound receiver, had one reception for 9 yards. Caden Piening, a 6-foot-5, 245-pound tight end, caught one pass for 6 yards. Ric’Darious Farmer, a 5-foot-11, 165-pound receiver, had one catch for 1 yard. Taevion Swint, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound running back, and Duke Watson, a 6-foot, 180-pound running back, each had one reception for negative yardage. Atticus Bertrams, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound punter, punted five times for 215 yards.

UCF’s defense received a game-high 10 tackles from Demari Henderson, a 6-foot, 160-pound defensive back. Jahleel Culbreath, a 6-foot-2, 222-pound linebacker, posted nine tackles and half a sack. Jayden Williams, a 5-foot-11, 182-pound cornerback, also had nine tackles. Horace Lockett, a 6-foot-6, 341-pound defensive lineman, recorded five tackles and one quarterback hurry. Tackett Curtis, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker, and Rashad Henry, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker, each made five tackles. Ty Bartrum, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound safety, had four tackles. Aymeric Koumba, a 6-foot-5, 260-pound edge rusher, added two tackles and half a sack. Sincere Edwards, a 6-foot-1, 245-pound defensive lineman, and Jayden Bellamy, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound defensive back, each had three tackles. Isaiah Nixon, Braeden Marshall, Thomas Collins, Ken Talley, Caleb Flagg, Antione Jackson, Brad Gurley Jr. and Jeffson Lafontant each finished with two tackles. Kahmel Johnson, Kyle Hicks, Rukeem Stroud, Dylan Wade and Jayden Jennings each had one tackle. Antione Jackson returned a punt for no gain.

Houston began its comeback behind Weigman. He scored on a 19-yard run with 3:38 remaining in the third quarter. Jonathan Dimas made the extra point. Weigman scored on a 1-yard run with 1:11 remaining in the third quarter, and Dimas again converted. Weigman tied the game with another 1-yard touchdown run with 10:15 remaining in the fourth quarter. Dimas made the extra point. Dimas then gave Houston its first lead with a 40-yard field goal with 4:14 remaining in the fourth quarter. Re’Shaun Sanford II broke free for a 31-yard run with 2:18 remaining to help set up another score. Dimas capped the scoring with a 46-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining. Houston’s defense then held UCF without a late answer.

Houston’s offense also got two receptions for 19 yards from Makhi Hughes, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound running back. Koby Young, a 6-foot, 175-pound receiver, caught one pass for 5 yards and made one tackle. Weigman completed 18 of 33 passes for 239 yards while adding 13 carries for 50 yards. His three rushing touchdowns powered the rally. Patrick Overmyer, a 6-foot-5, 235-pound tight end, also appeared for the Cougars.

Houston’s defense was led by Kentrell Webb, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound defensive back, who had eight tackles. Javion White, a 6-foot, 180-pound safety, added seven tackles. Will James, a 6-foot, 185-pound defensive back, had six tackles. Jordan Allen, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound safety, made five tackles and one quarterback hurry. Khalil Laufau, a 6-foot-3, 286-pound tackle, recorded four tackles, one sack and one quarterback hurry. Sione Fotu, a 6-foot, 230-pound linebacker, had four tackles and one quarterback hurry. Koby Young added one tackle. The Cougars limited UCF’s production after the Knights’ fast start.

UCF entered the game after a win over Texas Christian. Earlier this season, the Knights defeated Georgia State and Bethune-Cookman and lost at Pittsburgh. Houston entered after a win at Georgia Southern. The Cougars had also beaten Southern and Oregon State while losing at Texas Tech. UCF will visit Oklahoma State next. Houston will travel to Kansas State next.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Houston 42, UCF 28. Interstat’s ELO system gave Houston an 84.1 percent probability to win. UCF had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +10.5. The total score of 44 went over the over/under line of 50.5.