Orlando, FL- It has been an incredible week for the UCF Knights, head coach Scott Frost becoming a father and his team staying the course on a perfect season. Despite penalties, turnover, zero points in the 3rd quarter, and failing to convert on two 4th downs, UCF still manages to find ways to win. The No.18 Knights defeated the University of Connecticut Huskies, 49-24 in a game at one point could of gone different ways.
The Knights started off this game with a three and out, but were giving a second chance thanks to an offsides called on the Huskies. UCF marched down the field to cap off three-yard touchdown run by running back/wide receiver Otis Anderson. It would be their seventh straight game scoring on a opening drive. UCF went up 7-0, but the Huskies responded with a drive of their own and finished with 20-yard field goal by Connecticut kicker Mike Tarbutt, 7-3. UCF was quick to answer with running back Adrian Killins Jr. scoring a 4-yard touchdown taking the 14-3 lead.
The next UCF drive started off with three penalties, unsportsmanlike conduct, a false start, and holding. Despite the three penalties, UCF’s quarterback McKenzie Milton led the Knight charge down the field and finished six-yard touchdown pass to WR Marlon Williams to increase the lead to 21-3.
“I forget the stats but it’s a low percentage chance you can score when you get one penalty,” said Frost after the game. “We certainly got to go to the film and look at those and see what’s going on and make sure that we’re not making those mistakes. But it’s remarkable to be able to endure that and get the ball down the field. We’ve got a lot of playmakers and made plays at the right time to keep that drive alive.”
Connecticut would not go away as quarterback David Lindell threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mason Donaldson to make it 21-10. UCF answered again by scoring on their 4th straight drive in the game with Milton throwing a 41-yard pass to wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith.
UCF lead at halftime, 28-10. Connecticut would score on their opening drive of the second half by Lindell running for nine-yard touchdown to keep the game close 28-17. Connecticut defense would hold the UCF offense to no points in the third quarter. It was first time since the Maryland game earlier this season that UCF was held scoreless in a quarter.
The Huskies defense would force a fumble and stop UCF on two 4th down drives. However, Connecticut could not take advantage of these opportunities. The UCF defense would finish with three sacks in the game and defensive back Mike Hughes caught his third interception of the season.
“Defensively, we played the best we’ve played all year in the third quarter,” said Connecticut head coach Randy Edsall. “We couldn’t do anything offensively after we got the touchdown. We couldn’t make a third-and-one, we couldn’t make a fourth-and-one. Then, we get into the fourth and have some guys bust things on the defensive, which led to touchdowns, but we just couldn’t be consistent for an extended period of time as a team.”
UCF’s offense would get their mojo back as they would score 21 unanswered points in the 4th quarter. Anderson scored on a 65-yard touchdown run, Milton would score on a four-yard quarterback run and second-string quarterback Noah Vedral would throw his first touchdown pass to wide receiver Cam Stewart for his first touchdown catch. Anderson’s 65-yard touchdown run is the longest run of his career. UCF put the game out of reach, thoughConnecticut finally put one touchdown on the board, with Lindell throwing 22-yard pass to wide receiver Aaron McLean.
“I think any good team has to be battle tested and face some adversity throughout the season,” said Milton after the game. “We know that we are 9-0. We are going to get everyone’s best shot. Nobody’s going to fold on us. Nobody is going to come in and just lay down on us. We Know we got come ready to play and juiced up for whoever is lined up across from us.”
Milton finished the game with 311 yards passing, 57 yards rushing and two touchdowns. He tied former UCF quarterbacks Blake Bortles and Daunte Culpepper with five 300+ yard passing games in a season. UCF Running back Otis Anderson finished with 84 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Smith had seven catches for 120 yards and a touchdown. He’s the only other player besides former UCF wide receiver Ted Wilson to have 10 career 100-yard receiving games in UCF history.
Both teams wore alternate patriotic uniforms to honor Veterans Day. UCF now improves to 9-0 on the season and 6-0 in the American Conference play. The Huskies drop to 3-7 on the season and 2-5 in AAC play. This loss forConnecticut put them out of bowl contention with only two games left in the season. With UCF still undefeated, they look to move up in the rankings.
The Knights will travel to Temple next weekend. That game could be a trap game for UCF before they have their annual I-4 rivalry showdown against USF, Thanksgiving week. Connecticut will be back at home next week to face off against Boston College, which will be played at historic Fenway Park.
