(Photo by Adrian J. Hernandez / New Day Review | Video by Victor Tan / New Day Review)
ORLANDO, Fla. – Going into the game against the University of Memphis, the University of Central Florida was a 5.5-point favorite. For a team that had only played two games against a paltry Florida International University team and a quarterback-depleted University of Maryland team, UCF hadn’t proved much yet.
With that said, Memphis was receiving the sixth-most votes outside the Associated Press’ top-25 list. The Knights were on the cusp of receiving those kinds of votes because of their scoring output that put them at the top of the nation and because of a defense that held teams to just 13.5 points per game. In turn, fans and media alike expected a close game between Memphis and UCF, as Memphis had beaten the then-No. 25 UCLA Bruins in Week 3 and was scoring 43 points per game before facing UCF.
But a close game is not what took place between both teams on Sept. 30, as UCF (3-0, 1-0 in American Athletic Conference) throttled Memphis (3-1, 0-1 in AAC) 40-13 at Spectrum Stadium in front of 34,022 fans.
While defensive statistics greatly differed, UCF and Memphis had similar offenses. While UCF boasted the second-highest scoring offense in college football entering the matchup, Memphis was No. 14. The Knights were also averaging 512 yards per game, as the Tigers averaged 480 yards per game.
There were no similarities on defense though. The Knights came in ranked No. 12 and No. 14 in points allowed and total yards allowed per game, respectively. On the other hand, the Tigers were ranked No. 109 in points allowed and No. 116 in total yards.
The differences in the defense is where the game was lost for Memphis. The Tigers ended the game with 396 total yards, which would be good enough for 78th-best in the nation. But the Knights overpowered Memphis’ injury-laden defense with 603 total yards. The Tigers also managed just one meaningful touchdown that came on their very first drive. Memphis’ final six points came as the fourth-quarter clock ticked double zeros.
Here are the key takeaways from the Knights’ first AAC win of 2017.
Running-back Adrian Killins Is Fast
Saying sophomore Adrian Killins is fast might seem like a no-brainer. His speed was apparent in his true-freshman season last year. The state-champion sprinter has personal bests of 10.53 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 21.05 seconds in the 200-meter dash, and he showed that off in some of the Knights’ biggest games last year. In a 51-14 loss to the Michigan Wolverines in Week 2 last year, Killins tied a school record for longest rushing touchdown with an 87-yard burst. Against East Carolina University in the Knights’ first conference game of the season in 2016, Killins took a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.
This season, Killins showed his speed, again, in a record-setting, 96-yard touchdown run against Memphis, the longest score from scrimmage in the NCAA so far in 2017. The sophomore took a first-down hand off from McKenzie Milton, and, once he got to the sideline, there was no chance anyone was catching him.
The back would also contribute to the passing game, catching a 19-yard screen pass for a touchdown. Killins would finish his night with 115 yards and a touchdown on nine carries and 64 yards and a touchdown on a game-high five catches. Second-year UCF head coach Scott Frost said he wants to get Killins around 12 touches a game.
“He’s not the biggest guy, if you haven’t noticed,” Frost said after the win. “So, we can’t force-feed him 40 carries a game. But, man, if he touches it 12 times, something good’s gonna happen. And we’re gonna give it to him as much as we can and keep him healthy.”
Overall, the Knights had a fantastic game on the ground, despite missing starting running back Jawon Hamilton because of a season-ending leg injury he suffered against Maryland. UCF would finish the game with 350 yards on the ground, as junior running back Taj McGowan also contributed 63 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
UCF’s Defense Hasn’t Been Affected by Loss of 2016’s Starters
With Frost at the helm for his first season in 2016, the Knights were expected to be led by their offense, as Frost had orchestrated the high-powered offense of the Oregon Ducks. Though, that’s not how Frost’s first season went. Instead, his team’s defense led the way.
UCF finished 2016 allowing an average of 24.6 points per contest, good enough for 41st in the nation. The defense also ranked 39th in yards allowed (370.3 yards per game). That team is much different from this year’s version, as only four starters retuned from last year’s defense: linebacker Shaquem Griffin and defensive linemen Jamiyus Pittman, Tony Guerad and Trysten Hill. The 2017 Knights would also boast an entirely new secondary and three new linebackers.
Despite a plethora of new starters, the defense hasn’t missed a beat. So far, the Knights have allowed 13.3 points per game and 309.3 yards per game in their three contests. In Week 5, UCF held Memphis to nearly 100 yards less than its normal output and only allowed 13 points. The Tigers’ final touchdown came on the very last play from scrimmage when UCF’s backups were in.
Mike Hughes Is UCF’s Best Cornerback
Players who join a team less than two weeks before its season-opener are not necessarily expected to be a cornerstone of a defense, but that’s exactly what Mike Hughes did and is. Hughes didn’t arrive at UCF until late in the summer due to an academic logistics issue at Garden City Community College, but it didn’t take him long to solidify himself as a starter on this Knights defense.
After UCF’s 61-17, season-opening win over FIU, Hughes earned a starting spot opposite redshirt freshman Brandon Moore. While Moore has struggled with penalties, receiving penalties for a facemask against Memphis and pass interference and holding against Memphis, Hughes has impressed.
Before playing Memphis, Hughes had recorded five tackles, two pass breakups and a pick-six. He added to his totals with eight tackles, two pass breakups and his second interception of 2017 in the win over Memphis.
Apart from his late, second-quarter pick, Hughes helped hold Memphis from taking the lead early in the second quarter. With the Knights leading 9-7, following a Matthew Wright 28-yarder, Hughes notched one of his two pass breakups on an end-zone slant pattern from his own five-yard line. One play later, Griffin recorded his strip-sack that was recovered by linebacker Pat Jasinski.
Quarterback McKenzie Milton Might Be Good Enough to Lead UCF to AAC Title
For UCF, perhaps one of the biggest question marks entering 2017 was Milton. As a true freshman thrust into a starting role in a season he was initially intending to use his redshirt, Milton looked uncomfortable in the pocket, was too eager to run and failed to complete easy plays.
Now, Milton has proven he’s an improved quarterback, as the Kapolei, Hawaii, native is on pace to significantly surpass his first collegiate season. After throwing for 1,983 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions last season, Milton has so far thrown for 791 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions in 2017. He’s also second in rushing for the Knights, posting 186 yards on 20 carries for a team-high 9.3 yards per carry of rushers who have at least 10 attempts.
While Milton did have an ugly interception early in the second quarter, his night against Memphis was, otherwise, spectacular. He threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns on 19-for-31 passing and rushed for 88 yards on 11 carries. While Milton doesn’t have numbers that would make him a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy, he is not the offensive liability he was last season, and that could be the key to UCF making a run at the conference title this year.
“Well, [Milton] made a bad decision in the red zone when we had points, and I probably made a bad decision. Should’ve just run the ball there and taken the field goal,” Frost said. “Other than that, man, he just seems to be able to find plays and make plays when we need ‘em.
“The thing he’s a lot better at this year is taking the easy ones and converting ‘em. You know, last year, I saw him missing easy throws, and, this year, if it’s there, it’s there, and he gets the ball where it’s supposed to be. And then he’s always had that flair and that ability to make a special play, and he’s starting to figure out when to try to take those chances and when not to. He’s playing lights out for us right now, and I couldn’t be happier for him.”
UCF, USF Could Be Undefeated for Season-finale Matchup
With the Knights not having to play the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, the Knights’ toughest part of the schedule has perhaps passed. The Knights now have two dominating wins over teams that were receiving votes in the AP Top 25 in Maryland and Memphis. But as both the University of South Florida and UCF converge on a regular-season finale, the Knights are looking at the prospect of potentially going undefeated.
UCF’s biggest challenge will be traveling to face the Navy Midshipmen in Week 8. Navy is so far undefeated at 4-0 and 3-0 in the AAC, most recently coming off a 31-21 win over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
If UCF and USF are able to run the table the rest of the year, the last game of the season in Orlando could be a game where the winner goes to a New Year’s Six bowl.
For more on the Knights, as they prepare for their fourth game of the season and their second conference game of 2017 against Cincinnati, follow Ryan Weiss on Twitter at @NDR_RyanWeiss.
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