(Photo by Adrian J. Hernandez / New Day Review)
Game Recap
ORLANDO, Fla. – Last week against the University of Cincinnati, the University of Central Florida scored 51 points in just three quarters. This week against East Carolina University, the offense made up for that lost quarter, picking up right where it left off and scoring points in bunches.
The homecoming game for the No. 22 Knights (5-0, 3-0 in American Athletic Conference) resulted in a 63-21 home-team win over the ECU Pirates (1-6, 1-2 in AAC) behind the arm of sophomore quarterback McKenzie Milton Saturday night at Spectrum Stadium.
“I told the guys, ‘This is what we’re supposed to do.’ You know, I got a lot of respect for East Carolina and [Pirates head coach] Scottie [Montgomery], but I think we’re a better football team,” Knights head coach Scott Frost said after the game. “And that’s what you’re supposed to do tonight when you’re the better football team than someone.”
Coming off last week’s career game of five touchdown passes, Milton impressed again. The sophomore threw for 324 yards, including 291 in the first half and accounted for three total touchdowns. Entering the fourth quarter, UCF led 49-14, sidelining Milton for the rest of the game.
“I think [our offensive success is] a combination of things,” Milton said after the game. “The coaches are putting us in awesome opportunities to succeed, the O-line is doing a great job in protection—in the run and pass game—and the skill players are just making plays.”
With UCF ahead just 14-7 late in the first quarter, the Knights responded in turn with a touchdown in the waning minutes of the first. To cap off the first quarter, UCF drove 69 yards in six plays. On the three-yard line, Frost opted to try the option. Milton took the snap and stutter-stepped to freeze the defender before pitching Adrian Killins the ball for his third rushing touchdown of the season and a 21-7 lead.
UCF’s defense also put points on the board. Midway through the second quarter, junior linebacker Titus Davis ran a stunt up the middle and got a free hit on ECU quarterback Thomas Sirk. Redshirt junior safety Tre Neal intercepted the ensuing pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown and a 35-7 advantage on his second interception of the season.
After a Taj McGowan four-yard run gave the Knights a 42-14 lead entering halftime, UCF’s offense went scoreless in the third quarter. Fortunately for the Knights, starting cornerback and punt returner Mike Hughes was up to the task. Hughes let a deep punt bounce once, caught the ball and sprinted away for a 66-yard score.
In the first half, the No. 1 scoring offense in college football proved it earned its ranking by scoring 21 points in each of the first two quarters. It began quickly, as the Knights scored on the fourth play of their opening drive. Milton first found a wide-open Jordan Akins down the seam for a career-high third touchdown.
UCF scored its second touchdown of the game courtesy of an unlikely player. On first-and-goal from the four-yard line, defensive lineman Jamiyus Pittman lined up in the backfield for presumably more blocking duties. This time, though, Pittman darted to the flat and caught his first-career touchdown to put the Knights up 14-0.
“It was slow-motion,” Pittman said after the game. “Thank God for McKenzie. He threw it perfect. I think if he threw it any other way, I probably would’ve dropped it.”
Sirk scored ECU’s first two touchdowns on short-yardage situations, throwing for a five-yard score to Deondre Farrier in the first and a four-yard score to Davon Grayson in the second.
Player of the Game: QB McKenzie Milton
For the second week in a row, Milton brought his “A” game. After the first half the Kapolei, Hawaii, native had 291 yards on 19 of 22 passing with two passing touchdowns and one rushing. Milton would go down late in the second quarter with an apparent injury but would stay in the game.
What’s Next?
UCF travels to Annapolis, Maryland, to take on the Navy Midshipmen (5-1, 2-1 in AAC) on Oct. 21.
UCF Defense Gets Its 2nd Touchdown of the Season
Against the University of Maryland, the UCF defense scored its first touchdown of the year when Hughes returned a tipped-ball interception. This week, the defense scored its second touchdown of the year when Neal caught a pick-six. Neal’s pick was the Knights’ eighth interception of the season.
“If you saw the way he threw the ball, they were in his face,” Neal said after the game. “When they have that kinda thing, they get nervous. So, it just makes it—they’re basically letting us know that we can make a play and be aggressive on the ball when they’re getting pressure like that.”
Mike Hughes Continues to Make Impact on Special Teams
Entering the win over ECU, Hughes had a season-high punt return of 43 yards. Against the Pirates, he set a new high, returning a third-quarter punt 66 yards for his second score of the season. Hughes’ first punt return for a touchdown a block-in-the-back penalty negated the score. The first-year Knight scored his first touchdown of the season on a pick-six against Maryland.
“Special teams is a game-changer,” Hughes said after the game. “A lot of people don’t realize it, but it could change the game around. That’s what I like to do, so I like being back there.”
Scott Frost Impressed With Homecoming Crowd
For the 2017 homecoming game, UCF unveiled space-themed uniforms complete with a special helmet. The 40,287 fans in attendance pulled out their phones for kickoffs, too. Frost described the UCF community and fans as family.
“When those cellphones were shining with the lights before the kickoffs, I thought that was really neat,” Frost said. “The space game was fun. It’s fun to have people back in town for homecoming. We have some of the old players in town. It’s starting to really feel like a UCF family, and I’m glad I’m a part of it.”
Highlights
In the blink of an eye, @UCF_Football is in the end zone. pic.twitter.com/9EFFEsgKZX
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 14, 2017
A big man touchdown for @UCF_Football as they take a 14 – 0 lead early. pic.twitter.com/m6foTtfDRZ
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 14, 2017
Now THIS is how you avoid ∞ tackles on one run. pic.twitter.com/PEKtlp6dBB
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 14, 2017
Milton just moseys on into the end zone to build @UCF_Football‘s lead pic.twitter.com/gWrcKWrwyW
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 15, 2017
The @UCF_Football defense decides to get in on the act as they take this Pick-6 to the house. pic.twitter.com/QhdD6s8EUv
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 15, 2017
Great throw and an even better catch for @ECUPiratesFB pic.twitter.com/liu6QtRDQJ
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 15, 2017
Sirk drives the length of the field and @ECUPiratesFB find the end zone for the second time tonight. pic.twitter.com/lrEMcCPn0i
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 15, 2017
Go up there and get it young man. First down, @UCF_Football pic.twitter.com/ZnDMvNZPwx
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 15, 2017
Extra effort goes a long way. @ECUPiratesFB notch another TD on this nifty grab. pic.twitter.com/ywhjeYD1O2
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 15, 2017
NDR Notes
- Dating back to the 2016 AutoNation Cure Bowl, Milton has thrown at least one touchdown in the past six games.
- Milton has thrown for at least two touchdowns in the last three games.
- The last time UCF scored a touchdown on offense, defense and special teams was in a 47-29 victory against ECU last season on Oct. 1, 2016.
- The Knights went over 500 yards of total offense for the third-straight game. The last time this happened was in 1988.
- UCF scored at least 60 points for the second time this season and scored over 50 in back-to-back games.
- Darius Pinnix’s 57-yard run is the longest UCF has given up this season.
- Back-up quarterback and true freshman Noah Vedral scored his first-career touchdown on a 13-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Scoring
Time | Team | Play | PAT | Score |
Q1, 13:44 | University of Central Florida | McKenzie Milton to Jordan Akins, 48-yard pass | GOOD | 7-0, UCF |
Q1, 6:17 | University of Central Florida | McKenzie Milton to Jamiyus Pittman, 4-yard pass | GOOD | 14-0, UCF |
Q1, 4:32 | East Carolina University | Thomas Sirk to Deondre Farrier, 5-yard pass | GOOD | 14-7, UCF |
Q1, 0:12 | University of Central Florida | Adrian Killins, 3-yard run | GOOD | 21-7, UCF |
Q2, 7:49 | University of Central Florida | McKenzie Milton, 1-yard run | GOOD | 28-7, UCF |
Q2, 7:25 | University of Central Florida | Tre Neal, 50-yard pick-six | GOOD | 35-7, UCF |
Q2, 1:41 | East Carolina University | Thomas Sirk to Davon Grayson, 4-yards | GOOD | 35-14, UCF |
Q2, 0:40 | University of Central Florida | Taj McGowan, 3-yard run | GOOD | 42-14, UCF |
Q3, 4:48 | University of Central Florida | Mike Hughes, 66-yard punt return | GOOD | 49-14, UCF |
Q4, 12:58 | University of Central Florida | Noah Vedral, 13-yard run | GOOD | 56-14, UCF |
Q4, 10:41 | East Carolina University | Gardner Minshew to Tahj Deans, 17-yard pass | GOOD | 56-21, UCF |
Q4, 5:19 | University of Central Florida | Greg McCrae, 18-yard run | GOOD | 63-21, UCF |
Statistics
Passing
Player | Team | Completed | Attempted | Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions |
McKenzie Milton | University of Central Florida | 21 | 27 | 324 | 2 | 0 |
Thomas Sirk | East Carolina University | 9 | 21 | 91 | 2 | 1 |
Gardner Minshew | East Carolina University | 1 | 0 |
Rushing
Player | Team | Rushes | Yards | Yards/Rush | Touchdowns | Long |
Adrian Killins | University of Central Florida | 8 | 52 | 6.5 | 1 | 18 |
Greg McCrae | University of Central Florida | 5 | 64 | 12.8 | 1 | 20 |
Taj McGowan | University of Central Florida | 8 | 26 | 3.3 | 1 | 9 |
Cordarrian Richardson | University of Central Florida | 8 | 59 | 7.4 | 0 | 18 |
Darius Pinnix | East Carolina University | 13 | 93 | 7.2 | 0 | 57 |
Hussein Howe | East Carolina University | 8 | 37 | 4.6 | 0 | 21 |
Receiving
Player | Team | Catches | Yards | Yards/Catch | Touchdowns | Long |
Tre’Quan Smith | University of Central Florida | 5 | 93 | 18.6 | 0 | 37 |
Otis Anderson | University of Central Florida | 7 | 76 | 10.9 | 0 | 20 |
Jordan Akins | University of Central Florida | 2 | 52 | 26.0 | 1 | 48 |
Cam Stewart | University of Central Florida | 2 | 49 | 24.5 | 0 | 42 |
Davon Grayson | East Carolina University | 6 | 96 | 16 | 1 | 41 |
For more on the Knights, as they look to continue their five-game winning streak, follow Ryan Weiss on Twitter at @NDR_RyanWeiss.
[…] week, in a 63-21 win over East Carolina University, the Knights’ special teams had those game-changing moments Loudermilk […]
[…] Recap […]
Comments are closed.