By Garin Turner
The UCF Knights won its AAC opener against the SMU Mustangs 41-19 Wednesday night, after the game was postponed due to the hurricane last week. The Knights scored 31 unanswered points to help secure the victory. With the win, the Knights are 4-1 on the year while the Mustangs drop below .500 to 2-3.
John Rhys Plumlee threw for two touchdowns in the second half to Ryan O’Keefe and had 316 yards passing. SMU took a 13-10 lead into halftime before UCF went on its scoring spree. SMU’s Velton Gardner scored the first touchdown of the game in the first quarter on a 39-yard run.
UCF tied the game at 10 with 5:49 left in the first half on an Isiah Bowser one-yard run. In the third quarter, Bowser would score on another one-yard run and O’Keefe would haul in his first TD from Rhys Plumlee when he stretched out for a 26-yarder for a 24-13 lead.
After a safety to start the fourth quarter, O’Keefe scored on a 56-yard reception. A two-point conversion made it 34-13, UCF. Bowser would score for a third time via a three-yard run.
The final score of the game came as the clock hit zero when backup QB Preston Stone scored on a two-yard run for SMU.
Bowser finished the game with 62 yards on 15 carries to go along with the three scores. On the year Bower has 290 yards on 84 attempts and eight touchdowns.
Rhys Plumlee has thrown for 1,143 yards and seven touchdowns on the season for UCF. O’Keefe has 21 receptions for 253 yards and two touchdowns.
The Knights won despite SMU gaining more first downs 26-19 and almost identical in total yards 484-476 in favor of UCF.
UP NEXT
UCF: The Knights will play Temple at home on Oct. 13.
SMU: The Mustangs welcome Army on Oct. 14.
