(Photo by Adrian J. Hernandez / New Day Review)
ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Central Florida (2-0) will kick off American Athletic Conference play against the University of Memphis (3-0) this Saturday in a game that was originally scheduled for Sept. 9.
After a 61-17 season-opening victory over Florida International University, UCF was scheduled to play Memphis in Week 2. Hurricane Irma had other plans, however, as one of the largest hurricanes to hit Florida forced the Knights to cancel a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Week 3 and replace the University of Maine with Memphis in Week 5.
Since the Week 2 and Week 3 cancellations, Memphis has played and won two games against the then-No. 25 UCLA Bruins and FCS program Southern Illinois University. The victory over UCLA was impressive, as the team went on the road and beat a ranked, Power Five team that has possibly the best quarterback in the country in Josh Rosen.
Like UCF, Memphis is led by a second-year head coach in Mike Norvell. Last season, the Tigers went 8-5, including a season-ending, 51-31 loss to Western Kentucky University in the Boca Raton Bowl.
UCF has also had an impressive victory of its own, beating the University of Maryland 38-10. Before the Week 4 matchup, the Terps were receiving the third-most votes outside of the Associated Press’ top 25.
Now, the two teams will finally meet in a matchup that will test both sides of the ball for both teams. UCF enters the game as a four-point favorite.
Here’s what to expect from Memphis when both teams kick off at Spectrum Stadium at 7 p.m.
Offense Leads Tigers in Early-season Going
For the second week in a row, UCF will be facing off against a high-powered offense. After limiting a Maryland rushing attack that averaged 315 rushing yards in two games to just 42 yards on 37 carries in Week 4, the Knights will face a Memphis offense that averages the 14th-most points in the nation (43 points per game). Memphis also averages 480 yards per game, good enough for 35th-best.
The Tigers have a balanced attack on offense. They average 261 passing yards per game and 219 on the ground. Of the top 35 teams in total yardage, only the University of Miami, Duke University and Texas Christian University have a smaller discrepancy between the two offensive forms.
UCF Respects Memphis Quarterback Riley Ferguson
Memphis’ starting quarterback is senior and second-year starter Riley Ferguson. Last season, Ferguson threw for 3,698 yard and 32 touchdowns with 10 interceptions in 13 starts. Through three games in 2017, Ferguson has thrown for 783 yards and eight touchdowns with two interceptions.
UCF defensive coordinator Erik Chinander thinks Ferguson has the makings of a National Football League player.
“Well, No. 1, I think they have an outstanding quarterback,” Chinander said after practice on Sept. 26. “I think [Ferguson’s] as good as probably anybody in the country. I think he’s a Sunday player. So he’s obviously a guy that you gotta control. You know, he’s different than some of the guys we play. He’s not really the runner; he’s not really—he’s a dual threat in a way that he pulls the ball to get defenders sucked in, and then he makes some plays on the perimeter. So we gotta control him.”
Troy Walters Draw Similarities Between Own Defense, Memphis’
If Memphis has a weakness, it would be its defense. Through three games, Memphis has allowed opposing offenses to an average of 483.7 yards per game, good enough for 116th in the nation. More specifically, the Tigers allows 344 passing yards and 139.7 rushing yards per game. Memphis also ranks 109th in points allowed, giving up 35 points per game. Despite a stark discrepancy between UCF’s No. 12 ranking in points allowed and No. 15 ranking in total yards allowed, Knights offensive coordinator and wide-receivers coach Troy Walters sees similarities between the Tigers’ defense and his own team’s.
“They’re multiple like our defense,” Walters said after practice on Sept. 26. “So they’re gonna give you different looks up front. They’re gonna attack you. Linebackers are probably the strength of their defense. They’re downhill guys, [Genard Avery] and [Curtis Atkins] and [Cade Mashburn]. And then in the secondary, they’re gonna challenge you. They’re gonna get up in your face and press you and try to make you beat them over the top. So, we got our hands full.”
Memphis Defense Suffering Injuries
Perhaps part of Memphis’ defensive woes can be attributed to injuries. Starting nose tackle Jared Gentry and linebacker Jackson Dillon each suffered season-ending injuries in the Tigers’ season-opening win over University of Louisiana at Monroe. Gentry suffered a leg injury, and Dillon succumbed to a shoulder injury.
On the offensive side, redshirt senior athlete Sam Craft has been sidelined for the season. Craft has rushed for 13 touchdowns and 782 yards on 212 carries and has caught 64 passes for 660 yards and four touchdowns.
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UCF and Memphis will face off on Saturday at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
For more on the Knights, as they prepare to take on the Tigers, follow Ryan Weiss on Twitter at @NDR_RyanWeiss.
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