UCF Offense Leads Knights to Rout of Memphis

The University of Central Florida won its first conference game in a rout of the Memphis Tigers, the favorites to win the American Athletic Conference West.

By
Ryan Weiss
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7
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University of Central Florida running back Adrian Killins runs the ball during a 40-13 win over the Memphis Tigers at Spectrum Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017. (Photo by Adrian J. Hernandez / New Day Review)
(Photo by Adrian J. Hernandez / New Day Review | Video by Victor Tan / New Day Review)

Game Recap

ORLANDO, Fla. – Leading up to the University of Central Florida’s Week 5 matchup with the Memphis Tigers, the Knights wanted to get one message across: They were ready for the challenge that the high-scoring, undefeated Tigers presented. On Saturday night, UCF backed up its talk, as the Knights (3-0, 1-0 in American Athletic Conference) defeated the Tigers (3-1, 0-1 in AAC) 40-13 at Spectrum Stadium in front of 34,022 fans.

“Scheme aside, my players won this game,” UCF head coach Scott Frost said after the game. “They out-played [Memphis]. They played harder. I think we were a more physical team tonight, and a bozo probably could have coached this team the way our guys played tonight.”

With starting running back Jawon Hamilton nursing a season-ending leg injury, UCF’s ground attack didn’t miss a beat. The Knights ran for 350 yards in the game, and both Taj McGowan and Adrian Killins made plays all night. Killins even made his way into the UCF record books.

A Memphis punt downed inside the UCF 10-yard line would lead to one of the most exciting plays in Knights history. Killins, famous for his track speed, showed why few can match his speed, as he took the handoff from quarterback McKenzie Milton and scored on a school-record, 96-yard touchdown run. That gave UCF a 16-7 lead in the second quarter.

Killins wasn’t done making plays on the night. On UCF’s first offense drive of the second half, the Knights would go 70 yards in eight plays with Killins scoring on a 19-yard screen pass for a 30-7 lead.

“I have to give credit to my O-line and the sports-medicine program here at UCF,” Killins said after the win. “I was battling a big injury my freshman year, and, to be back and doing the things that I’m doing for my team to win games, it’s a blessing. It’s just nothing but. Nothing but great things. My O-line is working hard; the whole team is working hard.”

The game was not always a blowout, however. On the Tigers’ first drive, they took it 71 yards in eight plays for a narrow, 7-6 lead.

First, the Knights scored on their opening drive of the game on a fourth-and-goal, one-yard rush by McGowan, his third touchdown of the season. Memphis responded with their own opening, scoring drive that was capped by a two-yard rushing touchdown by tailback Patrick Taylor Jr.

“Yeah, I was a little worried after that first drive,” Frost said. “Talked to [defensive coordinator Erik Chinander], who did a fantastic job. Can’t say enough about him. They kinda gave us some stuff on the first drive that our guys weren’t ready for. Think they made some great adjustments.

“Man, we got a defense that loves to play football, and they play together, and they communicate, and they run and hit. I’m just kind of a spectator when the defense is on the field ‘cause those coaches got it, and those players got it, and it’s fun to watch.”

The Knights would retake the lead midway through the second after Milton’s second-quarter interception. On the first play of UCF’s next drive, Milton would keep the ball on a designed quarterback run and break to the outside for 25 yards before being hit out of bounds. The second-year Knights starter would keep the ball again, this time for a 16-yard run up the middle to put the Knights in field-goal range where redshirt junior placekicker Matthew Wright nailed a 28-yard field goal for a 9-7 lead.

When the Knights needed their defense to step up, they did.

A Memphis offense that averaged 43 points per game entering Week 5 continued to pose a threat. UCF’s defense responded accordingly. With the Tigers threatening in the red zone midway through the second quarter, reigning AAC Defensive Player of the Year Shaquem Griffin sped past the offensive tackle and caused a sack-fumble that was recovered by Pat Jasinski.

That would be as close as Memphis would come to taking the lead for the rest of the night. The UCF defense would continue to force turnovers, as cornerback Mike Hughes and safety Kyle Gibson recorded interceptions for the second-consecutive week. Defensive end Seyvon Lowry also recorded his second-career interception.

“We had to play with that chip on our shoulder,” Hughes said after the game. “To not let those guys overpower our defense. You know, not let ‘em use their tempo. We gotta settle the game, a couple three-and-outs, and I think we did a good job in preparation. And that led up to a good game today.”

Player of the Game: Adrian Killins

Killins was phenomenal in UCF rushing attack that was missing its primary back. The sophomore led all rushers with 115 yards and a touchdown, including a school-record, 96-yard score in the second quarter. Killins also impressed with his hands, catching a game-high five passes for 64 yards and a touchdown.

What’s Next?

UCF will continue conference play next week, as the Knights travel to the state of Ohio to take on the University of Cincinnati (2-3) on Saturday.

Newcomer Mike Hughes Making Impression on Knights

Hughes followed his one pick-six performance against the Maryland Terrapins by recording another interception in the blowout win over Memphis.. In the second quarter, Hughes also had a key deflection where he perfectly covered a slant in the end zone to knock the ball away. On the very next play, Griffin forced a fumble with a sack. Hughes finished with eight tackles, an interception and two pass breakups.

“The interception I had, that wasn’t my guy,” Hughes said after the game. “I seen the ball thrown and broke on it. You know, I had guys there playing on the receiver, and it just fell into my lap. And I just did the rest.”

McKenzie Milton Throws 3 Touchdowns in Another Impressive Home Win

Milton, once again, continued to show he has improved in his second year in Frost’s offense. Apart from a second-quarter interception in the red zone, Milton played well all game. In addition to his 253 yards and three touchdowns through the air, Milton also rushed for 88 yards on 11 carries. He finished the game with an efficient 19-for-31 passing.

“Well, he 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.”

Knights Believe Adrian Killins is the Fastest Player in College Football

The one aspect of Killins’ game that makes him special is his speed. In high school, he was a state champion in track, running personal a personal best 10.53 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 21.05 seconds in the 200-meter dash.

On his 96-yard touchdown run, Killins even leaned forward at the goal line like a sprinter would at the end of a race. Wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith said he thinks Killins is one of the fastest players in college football while Milton and Killins himself believe that he is the fastest player in the nation. Frost is so impressed by his speed that he gave him a nickname from a superhero movie.

“I call him Dash,” Frost said. “You guys seen ‘The Incredibles?’ Dash from ‘The Incredibles.’ That’s kinda what A.K. is like. He hit that thing, and he hit the corner, and he was gone.”

 

Highlights

NDR Notes

  • Killins’ 96-yard touchdown run is the longest run from scrimmage in UCF history and the longest touchdown run. It’s also the longest touchdown run in the NCAA this season.
  • Hughes and Gibson have had interceptions in back-to-back games.
  • With two touchdowns against Memphis, Smith has now scored at least two touchdowns in three games.
  • UCF now holds a 10-1 overall record over Memphis.
  • The Knights allowed their first fourth-quarter touchdown of 2017 against Memphis.

Scoring

Time Team Play PAT Score
Q1, 8:11 University of Central Florida Taj McGowan, 1-yard run 2-point, FAILED 6-0, UCF
Q1, 5:15 University of Memphis Patrick Taylor, 2-yard run GOOD 7-6, Memphis
Q2, 8:29 University of Central Florida Matthew Wright, 28-yard FG n/a 9-7, UCF
Q2, 4:23 University of Central Florida Adrian Killins, 96-yard run GOOD 16-7, UCF
Q2, 2:08 University of Central Florida McKenzie Milton to Tre’Quan Smith, 34-yard pass GOOD 23-7, UCF
Q3, 11:39 University of Central Florida McKenzie Milton to Adrian Killins, 19-yard pass GOOD 30-7, UCF
Q4, 14:52 University of Central Florida McKenzie Milton to Tre’Quan Smith, 25-yard pass GOOD 37-7, UCF
Q4, 4:01 University of Central Florida Matthew Wright, 35-yard FG n/a 40-7, UCF
Q4, 0:00 University of Memphis Riley Ferguson to Damonte Coxie, 14-yard pass n/a 40-13, UCF

Statistics

Passing

Player Team Completed Attempted Yards Touchdowns Interceptions
McKenzie Milton University of Central Florida 19 31 253 3 1
Riley Ferguson University of Memphis 27 49 321 1 3

Rushing

Player Team Rushes Yards Yards/Rush Touchdowns Long
Taj McGowan University of Central Florida 12 63 5.3 1 29
Adrian Killins University of Central Florida 9 115 12.8 1 96
McKenzie Milton University of Central Florida 11 88 8.8 0 25
Darrell Henderson University of Memphis 6 48 8.0 0 20
Patrick Taylor Jr. University of Memphis 9 29 3.2 1 9

Receiving

Player Team Catches Yards Yards/Catch Touchdown Long
Tre’Quan Smith University of Central Florida 3 71 23.7 2 34
Adrian Killins University of Central Florida 5 64 12.8 1 27
Dredrick Snelson University of Central Florida 4 32 8.0 0 18
Jordan Akins University of Central Florida 2 34 17.0 0 25
Anthony Miller University of Memphis 3 37 12.3 0 16
Tony Pollard University of Memphis 3 75 25.0 0 35
Damonte Coxie University of Memphis 4 51 12.8 1 25

For more on the Knights, as they travel to Cincinnati for their second conference game of the year, follow Ryan Weiss on Twitter at @NDR_RyanWeiss.

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