(Photo by Adrian J. Hernandez / New Day Review)
ORLANDO, Fla. – The American Athletic Conference’s two best offenses met the night of Nov. 4 in Dallas, Texas, and the result was relatively tame. Rather, the defenses of the University of Central Florida and Southern Methodist University managed their respective opponent’s scoring, as the No. 18 Knights (8-0, 5-0 in AAC) defeated the Mustangs (6-3, 3-2 in AAC) 31-24 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
It’s difficult to say an offense that totaled 615 yards was a team’s weak spot, but that was the case in a scoring performance that was tied for UCF’s worst this season. The Knights were also coming off a school-record, 73-point performance against Austin Peay State University. The increase in competition played a factor, as the Knights played the No. 2 team in the AAC West instead of an FCS program.
Ultimately, it was the defense, which was coming off its worst performance of the season against the Governors, that staved off the Mustangs’ ninth-ranked scoring offense on their final three possessions that helped save the UCF victory.
Here are the takeaways from UCF’s second road test of the year.
McKenzie Milton Played, Perhaps, His Worst Game This Season
Sophomore quarterback McKenzie Milton threw a career-high 412 yards against SMU. However, his first 400-yard game was not his best. Milton threw two interceptions and evaded a third thanks to a dropped routine catch. Both of Milton’s interceptions came in the first half inside UCF territory.
Milton threw his first interception into double coverage on a third-down situation on the Knights’ second drive of the game, giving SMU the ball on the edge of field-goal range. While the UCF defense forced a punt, the Knights never had a chance to for a stop on Milton’s second pick.
On another third down, Milton’s pass was placed behind wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith for a pick-six that tied the game at 14-14. Though he didn’t throw another interception, the Kapolei, Hawaii, native finished with his first multi-interception game of the season against the 124th-best passing defense in the nation. Milton finished the game with a 23-for-40 passing clip, throwing a season-high number of attempts, and ran for 44 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
Knights Offense Failed to Finish Red-zone Chances
Despite UCF’s season-high in total yards, the Knights still mustered just 31 points. Entering the SMU game, UCF scored on 85.7 percent of its red-zone possessions, scoring 30 touchdowns and six field goals in 42 attempts.
Against SMU, UCF went 2-for-4 in the red zone. The first misfire came on UCF’s first drive of the game, as Taj McGowan’s outside run was stopped on a fourth-and-one on SMU’S 11. UCF’s second failed red-zone attempt came in the third quarter when tight end Jordan Akins fumbled at the seven-yard line fighting more yards.
UCF also struggled early, not scoring on its opening drive for just the second time this season. Milton and the Knights also turned it over on downs, threw an interception and punted on their first three drives.
“At times, we looked like us,” Knights head coach Scott Frost said after the game, per a UCF press release. “I kept looking up at how many yards we had on the scoreboard…and when you have 600-plus yards [of] offense, you’re supposed to have more points than that… We had plenty of chances to make this more comfortable, and their players played really well.”
Knights’ Defense Bends but Doesn’t Break Against SMU
The Knights’ offense wasn’t the only unit that had difficulty finishing drives. Despite gaining 489 yards of offense, SMU scored just 24 points. Six SMU drives ended in UCF territory with the Mustangs leaving scoreless.
UCF’s defense stood steadfast against SMU and its offense that was averaging over 40 points per game entering the contest. After Milton’s first interception, SMU started with the ball at UCF’s 43-yard line and went three-and-out. Following a late, first-quarter punt by UCF, SMU drove the ball to UCF’s 10-yard line where safety Tre Neal stripped SMU’s Ke’Mon Freeman on a third-and-two situation. Fellow safety Kyle Gibson would recover the fumble.
Adrian Killins Add to Collection of Long Touchdown Runs
Knights running back Adrian Killins is a big play waiting to happen. Including the SMU game, Killins now has touchdown runs of 96, 92 and 64 yards this season. Each score came during pivotal moments in the game, too. Part of what makes Killins so explosive is his vision. On both his 64- and 34-yard touchdown runs, Killins started the play in between the hashes and finished along the sideline.
Killins finished the game with a career-high 145 yards and tied his career-high for most rushing touchdowns with two. It was also his third 100-yard game of the season. He had none in his freshman season last year.
Knights Prove They Can Win Close Games
For the second time this season, the Knights showed their armor doesn’t break under pressure. After Milton’s first interception, the Mustangs took over possession at UCF’s 43 up 7-0, and the UCF defense forced a punt after three plays. UCF had another successful sequence after the Akins fumble and ensuing SMU touchdown in the third quarter. The Knights’ offense answered with a field goal, and the defense held the Mustangs scoreless for the entire fourth quarter.
This was the first contest of the year for UCF that ended in a one-possession game. Through the Knights’ first five game of 2017, UCF out-scored its opponents 253-84. Apart from the SMU win, UCF’s closest game was a 10-point road win over the Navy Midshipmen on Oct. 21.
“Winning games is hard,” Frost said. “Winning games against good football teams is really hard. This team has found ways. This was a new one. Going up and down the field like we did, we should have come away with more points. We can’t turn it over like that. We can’t give up that big play on the first play of the game on defense. Again, a ton of credit to them. I think they are a well-coached and talented football team. But our kids found a way at the end.”
For more on the Knights, as they prepare for their second-to-last home game against the UConn Huskies, follow Ryan Weiss on Twitter at @NDR_RyanWeiss.
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