Tag: UCF Knights

Nov 9, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; UCF Knights quarterback Jacurri Brown (11) dives for a touchdown against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half at Mountain America Stadium, Home of the ASU Sun Devils. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Arizona State scores late to win seesaw affair vs. UCF

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Sam Leavitt completed three touchdown passes, two of them to Jordyn Tyson, in Arizona State’s 35-31 victory over UCF on Saturday in a Big 12 game at Tempe, Ariz.

Arizona State (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) improved to 5-0 at home this season.

The Sun Devils played without leading rusher Cam Skattebo, who suffered a shoulder injury last week at Oklahoma State. Skattebo entering this weekend’s games third in the Big 12 with 1,001 yards on 173 carries. Kyson Brown started in Skattebo’s place and rushed 18 times for a career-high 73 yards.

Leavitt completed 16 of 25 pass attempts for 161 yards, and Tyson finished with seven catches for 99 yards.

RJ Harvey, the Big 12’s leading rusher, finished with 127 yards on 25 carries with three touchdowns for the Knights (4-6, 2-5).

Redshirt freshman Dylan Rizk, UCF’s fourth starting quarterback this season, made his first start on the road and was 24-of-34 for 229 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

The game had five lead changes, four in the second half. The scoring alternated between Harvey’s two rushing touchdowns and Leavitt connecting with Tyson twice.

Leavitt’s 13-yard completion to Tyson provided the final score with 4:55 left in the game.

UCF was stopped on a loss of downs on its 33 with 3:24 left when Harvey was taken down one yard short of a first down.

Arizona State was able to wind the clock down to just 5 seconds before turning the ball over on downs at the UCF 22. The game ended on an 11-yard pass from Rizk to Jarrad Baker.

Rizk completed all eight of his passes for 54 yards in UCF’s opening drive, capped with an 8-yard touchdown run.

The Sun Devils tied the game at 7 when Montana Warren returned a blocked punt by Martell Hughes 48 yards.

It was Arizona State’s first blocked-punt return for a score since 2017.

UCF increased the lead to 17-7 lead on a 6-yard run by backup quarterback Jacurri Brown on a designed run play.

Arizona State scored two touchdowns within 9 seconds of each other to take a 21-17 lead into halftime. A 4-yard scoring strike from Leavitt to Chamon Metayer was followed by an interception returned 9 yards for a touchdown by Laterrance Welch with 47 seconds left before halftime.

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) celebrates touchdown during the fourth quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

Arizona looks to end skid vs. reeling UCF

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Arizona will travel to Orlando, Fla., to face UCF on Saturday afternoon in a game featuring two teams that have made coaching and play-calling changes this season.

The Knights (3-5, 1-4 Big 12) dropped their fifth straight decision with a 37-24 setback to then-No. 11 BYU on Saturday. Two days later, head coach Gus Malzahn fired defensive coordinator Ted Roof and relinquished play-calling duties on offense, giving that responsibility to offensive coordinator Tim Harris.

Addison Williams, who has coached primarily defensive backs, replaced Roof as the defensive coordinator.

“These decisions were 100 percent my decision,” Malzahn said during his weekly news conference. “I feel it gives the Knights the best chance to snap out of the losing skid.”

Arizona first-year coach Brent Brennan earlier this season switched play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Dino Babers to tight ends coach and passing-game coordinator Matt Adkins.

The Wildcats (3-5, 1-4) saw their losing streak reach four games with a 31-26 setback to West Virginia on Saturday.

Arizona has not won since Sept. 28, when it beat Utah 23-10 in Salt Lake City. The Utes were ranked 10th at the time.

UCF bolted to a 3-0 start with a 35-34 victory over TCU on Sept. 14. It’s been downhill ever since for the Knights.

“I would think pieces of what they’ve done schematically are still going to be part of them,” Brennan said Monday of UCF’s coaching moves. “It is a challenge because it’s something different than what you’re seeing on the film.”

UCF is 19th in the country in total offense, averaging 454.8 yards per game. The running game is third in the nation, averaging 267.9 yards per game.

RJ Harvey has rushed for 1,017 yards on 149 carries.

UCF’s defense particularly has struggled stopping teams on third and fourth down. Opponents are converting 47.5 percent of third-down plays and 77.8 percent of fourth-down opportunities.

Arizona’s defense is riddled with injuries with captains Jacob Manu, Treydan Stukes and Gunner Maldonado out with season-ending leg injuries.

The offense features the connection of quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.

McMillan is third in the nation in average receiving yards per game at 122.8.

–Field Level Media

Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) reacts after made a first down against UCF during the first quarter in the week-8 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.

Rocco Becht, No. 9 Iowa State stage dramatic comeback win vs. UCF

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Rocco Becht led the No. 9 Iowa State Cyclones on a game-winning drive in the final two minutes of Saturday’s Big 12 home game against the UCF Knights, as Iowa State won 38-35.

The Iowa State (7-0, 4-0) sophomore quarterback led the Cyclones on an 11-play, 80-yard drive where Becht either threw or ran it himself on every play. It ended with Becht going straight at the goal line for a one-yard rushing touchdown and a follow-up two-point quarterback draw to grab the lead with 30 seconds left.

UCF (3-4, 1-3) had one final possession to try and either tie or go ahead, but the drive ended prematurely with Jacurri Brown throwing an interception to Jontez Williams.

Becht ended the night with 371 total yards, with 274 passing yards, 97 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. Carson Hansen added 91 rushing yards with two touchdowns.

Becht kept his composure late after throwing two interceptions that led to UCF touchdowns in the second and fourth quarters. In the second, it was Brandon Adams returning an interception 63 yards to the endzone.

In the fourth, Braeden Marshall returned a deflected pass off the hands of Jaylin Noel 70 yards for what was initially ruled a touchdown. After review, Marshall dropped the ball at the one-yard line, but UCF retained possession and ran in a touchdown on the next play.

The Knights challenged the Cyclones most of the night with an overpowering rushing attack. RJ Harvey had 196 rushing yards in the loss, and two touchdowns which included an 80-yard touchdown run that put Harvey over 3,000 yards in his NCAA career. Brown, starting in his first game at quarterback for UCF, added 154 rushing yards with two rushing touchdowns.

Iowa State’s win ties the program record for best start at 7-0, and the 4-0 start to the conference schedule is the best start to a conference slate in the Cyclones’ history.

–Field Level Media

Florida Gators defensive lineman Cam Jackson (99) gets a hand on UCF Knights running back RJ Harvey (7) during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 5, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]

RJ Harvey, UCF aim for success on ground vs. Cincinnati

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Cincinnati and UCF in several ways can be classified as identical twins heading into their game on Saturday afternoon in Orlando, Fla.

For starters, both teams enter with a record of 3-2 overall and 1-1 in Big 12 play. Also, both the Bearcats and Knights are coming off of road defeats, with Cincinnati falling 44-41 at Texas Tech on Sept. 28 and UCF losing 24-13 at Florida on Oct. 5.

The two teams also are the same in that they have two of the most productive rushing attacks in the Big 12.

UCF averages a conference-best 282.4 rushing yards per game behind RJ Harvey, who has rushed for 600 yards and nine touchdowns in the first five games of the season.

Cincinnati is sixth in the conference at 183.8 rushing yards per game, led by Corey Kiner (413 yards). Bearcats coach Scott Satterfield said Kiner suffered a rib or oblique injury in the first quarter against Texas Tech but is expected to play Saturday.

The running game could prove to be vital in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

With all the rain that has hit the Orlando area during the week, the field could be sloppier than usual even though the forecast for Saturday looks to be sunny and in the low 80s.

“With weather, it’s usually wind,” UCF coach Gus Malzahn said. “That’s what really affects people more than anything. So we’ll see where it’s at.”

The big difference between the two offenses is that Cincinnati has shown more balance.

Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby has completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 1,481 yards and 12 touchdowns, a big reason why the Bearcats have the third-most passing yards in the Big 12.

UCF is 12th in passing offense, with quarterback KJ Jefferson (59.3 completion percentage, 1,012 yards, seven TDs, four interceptions) struggling at times.

UCF has won the last two meetings between the teams, including 28-26 last year at Cincinnati.

“In their shoes, you lose a couple in a row and you are going to want to come out and play your best,” Satterfield said. “Kind of like that dog backed in a corner. They are going to fight, so we know we are going to get their best shot.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 21, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) warms up before the game against the Baylor Bears at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

UCF running game looks to counter Colorado’s passing

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UCF and Colorado are in positions similar to last year as they ready for Saturday afternoon’s Big 12 clash in Orlando, Fla.

The Knights (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) won their first three games in 2023 before their season went into a lengthy struggle that led to a final 6-7 record. The Buffaloes (3-1, 1-0) started 3-0 last year before stumbling to a final 4-8 mark.

Both coaches are putting aside any thought of a repeat performance.

“This is a completely different team,” UCF’s Gus Malzahn said this week. “We have more experience. I’ve said that before. We’re actually 1-0 in the conference and we weren’t that way last year.

“We have a real quality road win (at TCU) so it’s a different year. That ship’s sailed. We’re not thinking that way. We’ve got a big game and we’ve got to take care of business.”

Colorado’s Deion Sanders likes the way his Buffaloes have progressed in bounce-back wins over Colorado State and Baylor since a Sept. 7 loss at Nebraska.

“We’re getting there,” he said. “We’re getting closer. The one thing I can honestly and wholeheartedly say is we’re getting better every week in different facets of the game. You know darn well that you can’t compare last year’s defense to this defense or the offense as well. You see progress.”

The Knights enter the game ranked No. 1 in the Big 12 in both rushing (375.7 yards per game) and stopping the run (64.0). The Buffaloes are last in rushing (68.8) and 10th in stopping the run (150.8).

“Load up the box and pray,” Sanders said of his plan for slowing a UCF run game led by R.J. Harvey’s 149.3 yards per game.

UCF’s concern is contending with Colorado’s passing game. Shedeur Sanders has thrown for an average of 335.0 yards a game and hit a Hail Mary as time ran out to send last week’s win over Baylor to overtime.

“You’ve got to put pressure on him, there’s no doubt,” Malzahn said. “So far we’ve not done a great job putting pressure on quarterbacks when they’re thrown it. “

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights running back RJ Harvey (7) runs the ball during the second quarter against the Sam Houston State Bearkats at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

TCU looks to contain UCF star RJ Harvey in Big 12 opener

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Running back RJ Harvey leads UCF into hostile territory on Saturday night when the Knights take on TCU in Fort Worth, Texas.

Through two games, Harvey is second in the nation in rushing touchdowns (six) and eighth in rushing yards (268).

UCF (2-0) also leads the Big 12 in scoring with 51 points a game heading into the conference opener for both teams.

This will be the first meeting of the two schools. In fact, it’s the first time TCU has played any school from Florida since 1992. The Horned Frogs (2-0) are coming off their first shutout since 2017 after beating LIU 45-0 last week.

“Overall, this is a good challenge for our team. We’re really looking forward to playing these guys,” said UCF coach Gus Malzahn. “Real impressed with their quarterback, he can really throw it, but he can also make plays with his feet.”

TCU quarterback Josh Hoover took over the starting job midway through the 2023 season. He has thrown for 620 yards and four scores this season. Cam Cook has 139 rushing yards in two games.

“I thought our guys played clean and well in the first half,” said Horned Frogs coach Sonny Dykes after the LIU win. “It’s really difficult to get a shutout in college football.”

Johnny Hodges leads the Horned Frogs defense with 16 tackles. Namdi Obiazor has 1.5 sacks and four tackles for loss.

UCF went 1-4 in Big 12 road games last season. This is an early test for both teams looking to make a statement in the conference.

“Their head coach is one of the best in the country,” Malzahn said. “This is a big test for us. And we’re looking forward to seeing where we’re at on the road for the first conference game. We’ll see what happens at the end with how everything unfolds conference-wise, but I think this is one of the more talented teams in our conference, just big picture-wise, and we have to go on the road to their place.”

UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson, a former starter at Arkansas, has thrown for 333 yards and two scores.

–Field Level Media

Nov 25, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights quarterback John Rhys Plumlee (10) is lifted into the air by offensive lineman Marcellus Marshall (72) after scoring against the Houston Cougars during the first quarter at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

RJ Harvey’s two TDs help UCF past Houston

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RJ Harvey rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns to lift host UCF to a 27-13 victory over Houston on Saturday afternoon in Orlando, Fla.

Harvey has 10 rushing touchdowns in his past four games and 16 on the season for the Knights (6-6, 3-6 Big 12), who became bowl eligible for the eighth straight season. They were successful on their second opportunity to become bowl eligible after dropping a 24-23 decision at Texas Tech on Nov. 18.

John Rhys Plumlee completed 23 of 27 passes for 253 yards and a touchdown to Xavier Townsend. Plumlee also rushed for 58 yards and a score.

Kobe Hudson had nine catches for 98 yards for the Knights.

The Knights, however, endured significant issues in their kicking game on Saturday. Colton Boomer missed two field-goal attempts and an extra point.

Donovan Smith completed 12 of 20 passes for 161 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Cougars (4-8, 2-7), who have lost five of their past six games.

Houston started fast as Joseph Manjack IV reeled in a one-handed catch on a fourth-down play before Stephon Johnson took a forward pitch from Smith and scampered 16 yards for a score. Manjack had four catches for 74 yards and Johnson finished with six for 69.

UCF countered on its next drive, with Plumlee racing up the middle on a quarterback draw for an 8-yard touchdown. The play capped an eight-play, 94-yard drive, but Boomer misfired on the extra-point attempt.

Jack Martin’s 32-yard field goal regained the lead for the Cougars, however the Knights answered as Townsend eluded a pair of defenders to complete a 28-yard touchdown reception. That play gave UCF a 13-10 lead with 12:58 remaining in the second quarter.

Harvey made his presence felt in the third, rushing up the middle for a 21-yard touchdown just 53 seconds into the quarter before capping a seven-play, 52-yard drive with a 2-yard score. Harvey’s touchdowns extended UCF’s lead to 27-10.

Martin made a 34-yard field early in the fourth quarter.

–Field Level Media

Nov 11, 2023; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Behren Morton (2) throws a pass against the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Texas Tech, UCF battle for bowl bid

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When the dust settles Saturday, Texas Tech or UCF will bag a sixth victory and stretch its schedule by one game with certified bowl eligibility.

Wins usher both the Red Raiders (5-5, 4-3 Big 12) and Knights (5-5, 2-5) into Lubbock for their first Big 12 meeting.

Texas Tech claimed a 16-13 triumph at Kansas last week with its best defensive effort of the season. UCF pounded Oklahoma State 45-3 in Orlando, riding a huge offensive performance.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun because you have two teams that have gotten healthier and whoever wins will be eligible,” Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said.

Texas Tech’s game-winning field goal against the Jayhawks in the final 26 seconds spoiled KU’s fourth-quarter comeback. The Red Raiders limited Kansas to 379 yards in the win after slowing TCU down enough to prevail 35-28 the week before.

Texas Tech braces for one of the Big 12’s top offenses in the Knights, who lead the league in rushing yards per game (233.7) and yards per rush (5.7) and got a huge performance from R.J. Harvey last week: 206 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee appears on solid footing again. He returned from a leg injury earlier this season and looked fully healthy with 299 yards and three scores.

The Knights’ defensive effort was more notable considering the Cowboys came in hot — five consecutive wins highlighted by beating Oklahoma 27-24 a week prior. But OSU had only 52 rushing yards and 277 yards of offense in the loss.

“It was probably our most complete game since I’ve been here,” UCF coach Gus Malzahn said. “It was a big shot in the arm. Now we’ve got to flip the switch because we’re facing a team that’s got a lot of momentum and is fighting for a bowl berth like we are.”

Texas Tech might still be pinching itself about the bowl possibility considering a 3-5 start. Sophomore quarterback Behren Morton’s re-emergence since a shoulder injury hit another milestone with 458 yards the last two weeks.

“We’ve got a lot of confidence in him,” McGuire said. “He’s got good relationships with his receivers and the last two weeks, him feeling better has made a big difference in how he’s thrown the football.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 28, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Garrett Greene (6) carries the ball during the second quarter against the UCF Knights at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

Garrett Greene runs, passes West Virginia past UCF

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Garrett Greene rushed for three touchdowns to lead West Virginia to a 41-28 win at Central Florida in a Big 12 contest on Saturday in Orlando.

Greene finished 14-of-23 passing for 156 yards and rushed for 55 yards on 11 carries for West Virginia (5-3, 3-2 Big 12), which rushed for 286 yards.

John Rhys Plumlee went 25-of-36 passing for 274 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions for Central Florida (3-5, 0-5), which turned the ball over four times.

Leading 17-14 at halftime, West Virginia halted a Central Florida drive to start the second half with an interception after the Knights drove to the Mountaineers’ 32-yard line.

The Mountaineers then drove the field and took a 24-14 lead with 9:01 to go in the third on Greene’s 7-yard touchdown run.

Central Florida cut its deficit to 24-21 with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Plumlee to Javon Baker.

However, after recovering a fumble and taking over on the UCF 27-yard line, West Virginia took advantage of the turnover and went up 31-21 with 14:12 remaining in the game on Greene’s 1-yard touchdown run.

The Mountaineers extended their lead to 38-21 with 9:25 left on a 6-yard touchdown run by C.J. Donaldson.

West Virginia took the opening kickoff, marched 75 yards in nine plays and took a 7-0 lead on Greene’s 6-yard touchdown run.

UCF answered, also driving 75 yards in nine plays and tying the game at 7-7 on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Plumlee to Kobe Hudson.

West Virginia took a 17-7 lead after a 24-yard field goal by Michael Hayes with 2:01 to go in the first quarter and a 4-yard touchdown run by Jahiem White with 10:02 left in the second quarter.

The Knights cut their deficit to 17-14 with 5:50 remaining in the second quarter on an 8-yard touchdown run by Rhys Plumlee.

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Garrett Greene (6) hands off the ball to running back CJ Donaldson Jr. (4) during the first quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

WVU and UCF both looking to establish the run

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West Virginia coach Neal Brown succinctly summed up Saturday’s Big 12 Conference road game against UCF in Orlando, Fla.

“Both teams need a win,” Brown said during his weekly press conference Monday.

That is an understatement, given that both the Mountaineers (4-3, 2-2) and Knights (3-4, 0-4) are riding losing streaks and are desperate to get back on track with the regular season approaching its final month.

West Virginia enters Saturday’s game as a loser of two straight — at Houston on Oct. 12 and at home last weekend to Oklahoma State.

The Mountaineers have been especially leaky on defense the past two weeks, giving up 41 to the Cougars and 48 to the Cowboys.

The task won’t get easier for West Virginia against a UCF offense that is fifth in the Big 12 at an average of 34.1 points per game.

Brown said UCF’s rushing attack, which is second in the conference at 232.4 yards per game, is among the best in the country.

“They’re creative with it, and you’ve got to defend the whole field,” he said. “They are going to use a lot of different motions and things like that to get the receivers involved in the run game. We’ve got to handle tempo.”

In its first season in the Big 12, UCF is still looking for its first conference win after four straight losses.

The Knights came close last week in what might have been their best performance of the season, falling 31-29 at unbeaten and sixth-ranked Oklahoma.

Knights coach Gus Malzahn hopes that performance can catapult his squad to bowl contention for the rest of the season.

While UCF has had success running the ball this year, Malzahn said West Virginia has a formidable rushing attack of its own.

The Mountaineers are fifth in the Big 12 at 191.4 yards per game on the ground.

“They are No. 7 in the country in time of possession,” Malzahn said. “They run the football, they get off the field, and they are good on third down. They’re No. 15 in the country in penalties, so they are a disciplined team.”

West Virginia swept the previous two meetings in 2003 and 2004.

–Field Level Media