Written By Garin Turner
The 16th ranked UCF Knights (2-0) return to the field after an unexpected bye week due to Hurricane Florence last week to host Florida Atlantic (2-1) on ESPN 7 PM EST. This is the third consecutive season that the Knights had a game moved or canceled due to weather conditions. The last time the Knights took the field was a Sept. 8 victory against South Carolina State 38-0. The week prior, they defeated UConn on the road 56-17.
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This is only the second time these two teams will face each other. UCF won the first meeting in 2003 33-29. The Knights enter this game with the nation’s longest winning streak at 15. If they are victorious the Knights would have the AAC record for most consecutive wins at 16.
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UCF has put up 47 points a game while only allowing 8.5. They’re 65% on third down conversions and are averaging 618.5 yards a game on offense. Quarterback McKenzie Milton has 589 yards and has completed 63% of his passes and has six touchdowns on the season for a rating of 152.5.
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Milton hasn’t had to run as much as he did last year. Five Knights have rushed for 10 plus times in two games. Adrian Killins Jr. has 17 carries for 127 yards and three scores to lead all rushers. Greg McCrae (10 car, 105 yards, 1 touchdown), Bentavious Thompson (13 car, 70 yards), Taj McGowan (12 car, 67 yards), Otis Anderson (12 car, 65 yards), and Milton (10 car, 66 yards) have all contributed as well as backup QB Darriel Mack Jr. (5 car, 111 yards, 1 touchdown). As a team the Knights have rushed for 612 yards and seven scores.
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FAU dropped their first game of the season at Oklahoma 63-14 before winning two straight games at home against Air Force (33-27) and Bethune-Cookman (49-28). Despite having a winning record, FAU’s opponents have a better points per game average at 39.3 to FAU’s 32. They must find a way to slow down the powerful UCF offense who have scored on 14 of their 22 possessions this year and they don’t spend a lot of time doing it with 13 out of the 14 drives taking less than 2:39 off the clock.
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Running back Devin Singletary is off to a good start with seven touchdowns and 210 yards on 53 carries. Jovon Durante leads the team with 23 receptions for 298 yards and two touchdowns. The Owls have for receivers with over 100 yards.
