Written by Michael Hull
Orlando, FL – The UCF Knights have defeated the Temple Owls 52-40 to remain unbeaten. This game was a shootout from the word ‘go,’ with both teams racking up yards and touchdowns with ease. Temple finished with 670 yards, 444 of them coming through the air. Quarterback Anthony Russo also threw four touchdowns and rushed for another. As for the Knights, McKenzie Milton finished with 331 total yards and four total touchdowns, while running back Greg McCrae went for 188 yards on just 16 carries and a touchdown.
UCF lost the coin toss and had to kick to start the game. Temple wasted no time getting on the board, driving right down the field and kicking a field goal to make it 3-0 early in the first. The Knights came right back on the following drive. After a nice kick return and great run a play later by Adrian Killins, the Knights were down to the Owls’ 27, but the drive stalled and they were forced to try a field goal. The 40-yard attempt was blocked by Temple, however, and the score stood at 3-0.
The Knights’ defense stood strong on the ensuing possession, forcing a three-and-out, and Milton and the offense took over at their own 16-yard line. They weren’t there for very long, moving the ball downfield quickly until Milton hit receiver Dredrick Snelson for a 19-yard touchdown. The drive took just 55 seconds and four plays. With 8:54 left in the opening quarter, the score was 7-3, Knights.
Temple, not to be outdone, drove right down the field as well, ending it off with an 18-yard catch and run from Anthony Russo to Branden Mack. UCF came right back at the Owls, as Milton led them down the field and hit tight end Michael Colubiale for the score to make it 14-10, Knights. The Owls kept pace with UCF on the following drive, however, as Anthony Russo hit Randle Jones for a 70-yard touchdown. The scoring onslaught took a brief pause on the following drive, as Milton missed two deep passes in a row and the Knights were forced to punt. Temple looked to seize the opportunity and expand their lead, and were in the middle of a drive when the first quarter ended. Russo threw for 199 yards and two touchdowns, while Milton racked up 128 and two scores as the first came to a close with Temple up 17-14.
It looked as if the Knights’ defense had stood its ground to start the second, but they were flagged with running into the kicker on the field goal attempt, which gave the Owls another chance. They didn’t capitalize though, and were forced to settle for a chip shot field goal, or so everyone thought. Instead, the Owls faked the field goal and Russo ran it in from his holder position to make the score 24-14. That fake field goal score was Temple’s eighth non-offensive touchdown of the season so far. Milton was not fazed, however, as he led the Knights right down the field, mainly off of a 57 yard gain by Otis Anderson. The drive was capped off by Milton, who scrambled in from a yard out to close the gap. Temple’s next drive went exactly like the others; as there was little to no impediment by the UCF defense and the Owls went right down the field. They were stopped at the nine-yard line, however, and took the three points to make the score 27-21 with 6:12 left in the half. The Knights went three-and-out on the next drive, but punter Mac Loudermilk was able to flip the field and pin Temple deep in their own territory.
The Owls punted it right back to Milton and the UCF attack. The Knights drove the ball all the way down to the Temple one, where Taj McGowan would put it in the endzone to give the Knights the lead, 28-27, with just over 90 seconds left in the half. The Owls’ offense got the ball back and went to work, moving the ball effectively until they were able to find the endzone yet again. This time, Russo hit receiver Ventell Bryant for the score that made it 34-28 with just 18 seconds left. That is where the score would stay as the half came to a close. Temple came into the game 96th in the country in total offense, averaging 372.9 yards per game. They piled up 445 yards in the first half alone. Russo threw for 277 yards and three scores, and he added 40 yards and a touchdown on the ground. For the Knights, Milton had 233 yards and two touchdowns, while Taj McGowan added 46 yards rushing and a score.
UCF came out firing on all cylinders in the second half. The ground game got it started, as Greg McCrae had back-to-back 17 yard runs to get the ball into Owl territory. McCrae then took it to the house from 32 yards out, and the Knights were back on top, 35-34. The UCF defense then decided to actually play on the following drive, as Nevelle Clarke picked off Russo’s pass and gave the ball back to the offense in Temple territory. They could not capitalize on the field position and were forced to punt, but Loudermilk’s punt pinned Temple at their own three. The bad field position didn’t stop the Owl attack however, and Russo drove them down into UCF territory. The Knights defense was able to tighten up and force a punt, however, and UCF took over at the own 12. Just like Temple, the bad field position did not faze the Knights, and Milton led them right down the field until Michael Colubiale made a highlight reel touchdown grab to extend the lead to 42-34. The Owls came right back and took the ball into the red zone before the third quarter came to a close. Temple was held scoreless in the third after dropping 34 in the first half.
The Owls scoreless streak continued into the fourth after a missed field goal by Will Mobley. The Knights looked as if they could put the game out of reach, but then Milton’s pass was intercepted by Delvon Randall. Temple then continued its offensive success, but this time they were able to put it in the end zone on a pass from Russo to Ventell Bryant. The Owls did not convert on the two-point attempt, however, and UCF held on to the lead, 42-40. The Knights came right back with their own drive, capped off with a 10-yard touchdown run by Taj McGowan to make the game 49-40 with 8:16 to go. In a must score situation, Temple was put into a 4th and 20 after a huge sack by Trysten Hill. Temple wasn’t able to convert and UCF took over on downs with 4:57 left and a nine-point lead. The Knights knocked in a field goal to extend their lead to 12, where it would stay. The two squads combined for 1300 yards and 92 points in the game. UCF has not been seen as a true title contender yet this season, but that doesn’t bother them.
“We don’t look at us as an underdog,” tight end Michael Colubiale said. “We just try to go out there every week and go 1-0.”
UCF has now gone 1-0 for 21 straight weeks, as the 52-40 victory extends their winning streak to 21 in a row. They will look to make it 22 next week against Navy.
