Houston’s defense holds on to upend UCF 30-27 after late field goal by Ethan Sanchez

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Ethan Sanchez made a 22-yard field goal with 2:31 left to give Houston the lead, and Houston’s defense held on thanks to a Kentrell Webb interception in the end zone with 11 seconds left for a 30-27 victory over UCF.

Houston quarterback Conner Weigman threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 82 yards on 22 carries to lead Houston. The Cougars (8-2, 5-2 Big 12) outgained the Knights 434-240.

“We didn’t play great,” Houston coach Willie Fritz said. “We made some critical mistakes throughout the game. The kids just really played hard. I saw that from the beginning of the game to the end game.”

Houston overcame four turnovers, including three interceptions to UCF’s Phillip Dunham.

Dunham became the first player in UCF (4-5, 1-5) history with three interceptions in a game. He returned one of those picks 43 yards for a touchdown in the final two minutes of the first half.

The Cougars still came out on top, despite the turnovers, thanks to a dominant defensive performance.

They held the Knights to 104 yards in the second half and six three-and-outs. Houston linebacker Latreveon McCutchin had a 45-yard pick-6 that gave the team a brief lead after falling behind 10-0 in the second quarter. Houston put together a 15-play drive that ate up more than 7.5 minutes to score the go-ahead field goal.

“We played all four quarters like we were winning the whole time,” McCutchin said. “I feel like that came out popping for us.”

UCF switched quarterbacks from Tayven Jackson to Davi Belfort on its final drive after coach Scott Frost said Jackson suffered a hamstring injury.

Belfort scrambled for 32 yards to push the Knights to the Houston 30-yard line. Belfort threw the game-clinching interception on his lone throw of the game.

“It feels good seeing him out there and good with the energy he brought out there,” UCF running back Jaden Nixon said. “Unfortunately, it didn’t go how we wanted to. But he’s still a fighter.”

Jackson finished with 136 yards and an interception for the Knights.

UCF celebrated its annual Space Game with special uniforms and blue coloring on its jersey and field. The Knights entered the game 8-0 in their annual game.

But the Cougars took some exception to the Knights laying claim to the final frontier.

Fritz said one of his coaches prepared a video to educate his team on why Houston is called the “Space City.” They showed it to the team on Thursday night.

UCF leading rusher Myles Montgomery ran for 23 yards on six carries in the first half, scoring on a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter. But he left the game with a shoulder injury after the first half. He was spotted on the sideline with his right arm in a sling.

UCF defensive end Malachi Lawrence also left the game in the fourth quarter after taking a hard fall chasing Weigman.

Houston: Houston kept its Big 12 title hopes alive by staying in the pack of teams with two losses in the conference. The Cougars have already lost to Big 12 power Texas Tech.

UCF: UCF’s bowl game hopes took a major hit with the loss to Houston. The Knights play Big 12 cellar-dweller Oklahoma State in the middle of road games at No. 9 Texas Tech and No. 8 BYU.

Houston is on a bye next week and will host TCU on Nov. 22. UCF travels to No. 9 Texas Tech next week.

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