UCF Scores School Record 73 Points in Win Over Austin Peay

The No. 18 UCF Knights survived a first-quarter scare by FCS Austin Peay State University and scored a school-record 73 points.

By
Ryan Weiss
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University of Central Florida wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith, right, catches a touchdown during a 73-33 win over the Austin Peay Governors at Spectrum Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 28, 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. – Coming off its first tightly contested win of the season over the Navy Midshipmen, the University of Central Florida got back to its opponent-demolishing ways. The No. 18 Knights (7-0, 4-0 in American Athletic Conference) defeated FCS Austin Peay State (5-4) 73-33 at Spectrum Stadium Saturday night. Even with the 40-point victory, UCF head coach Scott Frost was not pleased with his team’s performance.

“We didn’t tackle very well,” Frost said after the game. “We made mistakes. We weren’t disciplined. We thought we had the guys ready and apparently the message didn’t get through, and that’s our fault as a coaching staff.

“The score ended up being one-sided, but I think they played a great game and I give them a ton of credit.”

Although the game ended in a blowout, Austin Peay was pesky throughout the first half. Ultimately, a back-breaking sequence at the end of the first half would put a stop to the Governors’ threat. With the Knights leading 38-26 with about a minute to go in the first half, UCF linebacker Titus Davis made a one-handed interception as he was back-pedaling and returned the ball to the 2-yard line.

After unsportsmanlike-conduct and holding penalties, UCF was pushed back to the 27-yard line. On the Knights’ second play on the ensuing short-field drive, quarterback McKenzie Milton sent a pass toward the end zone and Dredrick Snelson in double coverage. The sophomore receiver leapt between two defenders, corralled the ball and planted a foot inbounds to give UCF a 45-26 lead and solidify a blowout by halftime.

“Snelson’s biggest catch was probably last week. That catch against Navy,” Frost said. “He’s improved a ton from last year and made himself into a really fine football player. He had a few big plays for us tonight.”

Earlier in the second quarter, it looked like UCF had delivered a knockout punch. After UCF had taken a 11-point lead on a Matthew Wright 20-yard field goal, senior linebacker Shaquem Griffin helped the Knights solidify their blowout. Austin Peay’s Josh Alexander took a handoff and was stripped by UCF linebacker Pat Jasinski. The ball would roll forward and bounce right into Griffin’s glove, as he returned the ball 20 yards for his first-ever touchdown to give the Knights a 31-13 lead.

“The excitement I have to score a touchdown for the first time…it’s amazing,” Griffin said. “To be honest, I can’t even put it in words. I was just so happy to do it in front of the student section. I was just going crazy.”

UCF had another chance to put the game away late in the first quarter. After Austin Peay’s opening drive made the game 7-7, UCF received a jolt from its return ace on the ensuing kickoff. Mike Hughes fielded the kickoff and burst downfield for a 91-yard touchdown.

But Austin Peay refused to say die in the first half. After a three-yard touchdown run by Milton late in the second quarter, Kyran Moore had his own 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, making the score 38-26 with under two minutes to play in the first half.

UCF, once again, opened the game’s scoring on its first drive of the game. Though, it may have been the Knights’ most contested opening drive of the season. On the drive, UCF faced three third downs and had to covert a fourth down near midfield to keep the drive alive. Taj McGowan capped the drive with a four-yard rushing touchdown, his first of two scores on the night.

McGowan scored his second touchdown, a two-yard rush, when the Knights extended their lead on the first play of the second quarter.

Austin Peay scored three different unusual touchdowns during the game. The Governors scored their second touchdown of the game after offensive lineman Ryan Rockensuess recovered a ball that was fumbled twice on the goal line, cutting UCF’s lead to eight points. Austin Peay scored two more touchdowns off a tipped pass and a dropped interception.

“Their kids showed up to play,” Frost said. “I give a ton of credit to those kids and that coaching staff. I thought, offensively, they moved the ball as well on our defense as anybody has all year. Part of that is probably us not being as focused and as ready to play as we should’ve been. But I thought they had a lot of talent, and I thought they had a good scheme, and I was impressed with them as a football team.”

Player of the Game: WR Dredrick Snelson

In the win over Austin Peay, Snelson had the best game of his career. The sophomore finished the game with five catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Snelson had one of the most impressive catches of the season, winning a jump ball over two defenders and keeping his foot down to secure the score. Late in the third quarter, Snelson would find the end zone, again, with a 42-yard over the shoulder touchdown catch.

What’s Next?

UCF travels to Dallas, Texas, to face Southern Methodist University (6-2, 3-1 in AAC) on Saturday.

Mike Hughes Continues to Excel on Special Teams

Last home game against East Carolina University, Hughes recorded his first punt return for a touchdown of the season. This week, Hughes returned his first kickoff for a touchdown of the season. Hughes’ touchdown gave UCF some momentum after Austin Peay tied the game on its opening drive.

“Mike’s been an unbelievable addition to our football team,” Frost said. “And he continues to make plays on defense and special teams. We’re lucky to have him on the team and he’s one of our best players.”

UCF Defense Can’t Record Shutout Against FCS Austin Peay

During the week, UCF’s defense discussed the possibility of earning its first shutout of the season. Coming into the game, the UCF defense ranked 15th in scoring, giving up 17.5 points per game. The highest total the Knights had allowed was 23 against the University of Cincinnati. Against Austin Peay, UCF gave up its most points of the season, allowing 33 points to an FCS school.

“Austin Peay came at us with a lot of different plays, a lot of different gadget plays and things that we’ve never seen before.” Davis said after the game. “We practiced hard. We knew that they were gonna try to spread us out and make plays off of us and our weaknesses. But, I mean, their speed was pretty good.”

Quarterback McKenzie Milton Continues to Impress with Most Efficient Game of Season

Milton finished the game with 275 yards passing and three touchdowns on 24-for-26 passing. The true sophomore came within one completion of tying Daunte Culpepper for the most consecutive completions in UCF history, as he started the game 14-for-14. Milton didn’t even realize what he had accomplished until after the game.

“I [realized] after the game [my passing percentage],” Milton said. “Somebody told me that. And he told me I almost got Culpepper’s record for completions in a row, which is pretty cool.”

Kyle Gibson Ejected for Targeting

In the second quarter, UCF safety Kyle Gibson was ejected for targeting. Gibson dove at the Governors’ sliding quarterback and elbowed him in the helmet. After the play, Frost received an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty for arguing the call.

“At the time, I thought Gibby went over the top of him and missed him,” Frost said. “I was wrong. I haven’t seen it yet, but I was told his elbow made contact with the quarterback’s head. And if that’s the case, then they got the call right.”

Highlights

NDR Notes

  • UCF won its first coin toss all season.
  • The Knights continued its streak of scoring on its first possession of the game.
  • UCF returned its first fumble for a touchdown since Drico Johnson did so against Tulane University on Nov. 5, 2016.
  • Milton started the game completing 14 straight passes for the second longest streak in UCF history behind Culpepper.
  • The Knights last allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown against Brigham Young University on Sept. 29, 2011.
  • Milton has thrown a touchdown in eight-straight games.
  • Tre’Quan Smith tied the UCF single-season receiving touchdown record with his ninth of the season.
  • UCF has scored at least 60 three times this season, the first time in school history.
  • The Knights set a single-game school record, scoring 73 points.
  • Wright set a school record by converting 10 extra point attempts.

Scoring

Time Team Play PAT Score
Q1, 10:07 University of Central Florida Taj McGowan, 4-yard run GOOD 7-0, UCF
Q1, 3:26 Austin Peay State University Ahmaad Tanner, 7-yard run GOOD 7-7, T
Q1, 3:14 University of Central Florida Mike Hughes, 91-yard kickoff return GOOD 14-7, UCF
Q2, 14:55 University of Central Florida Taj McGowan, 2-yard run GOOD 21-7, UCF
Q2, 13:27 Austin Peay State University Ahmaad Tanner, 4-yard run n/a 21-13, UCF
Q2, 10:52 University of Central Florida Matthew Wright, 20-yard field goal n/a 24-13, UCF
Q2, 9:57 University of Central Florida Shaquem Griffin, 20-yard fumble return GOOD 31-13, UCF
Q2, 4:38 Austin Peay State University Jerem Oatsvall to Trey Pruitt, 12-yard pass GOOD 31-20, UCF
Q2, 2:00 University of Central Florida McKenzie Milton, 3-yard run GOOD 38-20, UCF
Q2, 1:47 Austin Peay State University Kyran Moore, 91-yard kickoff return GOOD 38-26, UCF
Q2, 0:14 University of Central Florida McKenzie Milton to Dredrick Snelson, 27-yard pass GOOD 45-26, UCF
Q3, 10:57 University of Central Florida McKenzie Milton to Tre’Quan Smith, 15-yard pass GOOD 52-26, UCF
Q3, 7:49 Austin Peay State University Jerem Oatsvall to Kyran Moore, 35-yard pass GOOD 52-33, UCF
Q3, 6:26 University of Central Florida McKenzie Milton to Dredrick Snelson, 42-yard pass GOOD 59-33, UCF
Q4, 14:15 University of Central Florida Cordarrian Richardson, 2-yard run GOOD 66-33, UCF
Q4, 3:06 University of Central Florida Noah Vedral, 11-yard run GOOD 73-33, UCF

Statistics

Passing

Player Team Completed Attempted Yards Touchdowns Interceptions
McKenzie Milton University of Central Florida 24 26 275 3 0
Jerem Oatsvall Austin Peay State University 12 18 209 2 1

Rushing

Player Team Rushes Yards Yards/Rush Touchdowns Long
Taj McGowan University of Central Florida 3 10 3.3 2 4
Cordarrian Richardson University of Central Florida 12 35 2.9 1 12
Greg McCrae University of Central Florida 8 27 3.4 0 14
K’Jay Johnson Austin Peay State University 6 31 5.2 0 8
Ahmaad Tanner Austin Peay State University 9 46 5.1 1 19

Receiving

Player Team Catches Yards Yards/Catch Touchdowns Long
Tre’Quan Smith University of Central Florida 5 64 12.8 1 19
Dredrick Snelson University of Central Florida 5 90 18.0 2 42
Alex Harris University of Central Florida 3 47 15.7 0 33
Jordan Franks University of Central Florida 4 33 8.3 0 17
Jordan Akins University of Central Florida 3 28 9.3 0 14
Kyran Moore Austin Peay State University 5 130 26.0 1 74

For more on the Knights, as they look to stay undefeated against SMU, follow Ryan Weiss on Twitter at @NDR_RyanWeiss.

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