The UCF Knights made a game of it, but they did not have enough of anything to contain the USF Bulls, who won by a score of 48-31. USF was led by strong rushing performances from running back, Marlon Mack, and quarterback, Quinton Flowers, who combined for more than 300 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
The Knights got the first lead of the game when running back, Jawon Hamilton, ran 3 yards for a touchdown just under two minutes into the game. That short run was set up by a 34 yard catch by receiver, Tre’Quan Smith.
Two possessions later, the Bulls finally responded, with a huge 43 yard touchdown run by Mack with 6:46 left in the first quarter. That put the score at 7-7, the closest the scoring would be for the remainder of the game.
With 5:05 left in the first period of play, UCF began a drive from the USF 20 yard line with a 12 yard run by Jawon Hamilton, setting up first down at the Bulls’ 32. Knights quarterback, McKenzie Milton, was sacked on the following play, fumbling the ball in the process. USF’s Juwuan Brown, picked up the loose ball for a scoop and score, a 22 yard return for a touchdown. The Bulls went up for their first lead of the game, 14-7 with 4:15 remaining in the first quarter.
Five minutes into the second quarter, USF would score again, a 33 yard field goal by Brandon Behr. That score was made possible by big runs by Flowers for 22 yards and D’Ernest Johnson for 18. The drive stalled thanks to good red zone defense by the Knights. With 10:08 left in the half, USF extended their lead to 17-7.
The next drive by UCF stalled at their own 40. The Bulls would turn that into momentum on their next possession. They would start on their own 22 yard line, working their way up to their own 44. Facing second and 16, Mack would take a Flowers handoff 56 yards for his second touchdown of the day. With just over five and a half minutes left in the first half, the USF lead was 24-7.
On the very next play, Knights receiver, Tristan Payton, would pass to Smith, resulting in a 72 yard catch and run for a touchdown. That pass, just the fourth in Payton’s career, was also his first passing touchdown and just his third touchdown overall. There would be no more scoring in the first half, leaving the score 24-14 at the break.
The second half would resemble the first, with lots of big plays on offense, dominated by the Bulls. Less than a minute had ticked off the clock when Flowers took the third snap from scrimmage for a 62 yard touchdown run. The USF lead with 14:05 left in the second quarter was 31-14.
UCF would try to respond on their next try, an attempt which would fall flat. They began at their own 16 yard line and were able to drive down to the USF 19, when their drive stalled. Matthew Wright made a 37 yard field goal, though, making the score 31-17.
The Bulls were still having their way on the next possession. Beginning on their own 25 yard line, they faced a third and three on their 32. Mack busted out another big run to convert, 23 yards to the Knight’s 45 yard line. A holding penalty would kill that progress and they were not able to repeat the magic with a 3rd and 13. That play would result in a five yard sack of Flowers, forcing the Bulls to punt from their own 17.
The short field would prove all the advantage the Knights would need to put up some more points. A 13 yard run by Hamilton and some hurry-up offense would set up first down from the USF three yard line. From there, Taj McGowan, had an easy run for the touchdown, narrowing the USF lead to 31-24.
Midway through the fourth quarter, UCF would start their second drive of the period from their own 24 yard line. Each team had traded field position on the several preceding possessions. Milton completed for six yards to Hamilton on first down and for seven more to Taylor Oldham, two plays later. With a new set of downs on the Knight’s 39 yard line, Milton was picked off by USF linebacker, Auggie Sanchez. Sanchez would return that interception to the UCF 24.
The short field made easy scoring for the Bulls. One snap later, Flowers was 24 yards down the field to score again, putting his team up 38-24 with 8:38 remaining in the game.
On the first play of the next drive, Milton looked for the home run pass, a deep ball intercepted by Nate Godwin for USF. UCF would limit the damage, stopping the Bulls’ drive on the UCF 13. USF would settle four three, a 30 yard kick by Behr, to go up 41-24.
The Knights started their next drive on their own 25 with 4:20 remaining in the game. Milton hit Cam Stewart for seven and 10 yards, and McGowan for 13 yards, which set up first and ten at the USF 45 yard line. Two plays later, Milton connects with Smith for a 41 yard touchdown, bringing the Knights within ten to trail, 41-31.
UCF forced a three and out on the next Bulls’ possession, but USF did the same to return the favor. The Knights attempted to convert a 4th and 16 from their own ten yard line, but the play resulted in a sack, handing the Bulls a very short field for their final touchdown of the game, a one yard run by Johnson. UCF would get the ball with 11 seconds left, but did not make a desperate attempt to score.
Flowers would finish the game with 152 yards rushing and 152 yards passing, with his two touchdowns coming off of runs. Receiver, Rodney Adams, was the favorite target of the game, with nine catches for 78 yards. Mack ran for 155 yards and two scores.
For the Knights, Milton passed for 225 yards and two interceptions. Smith had a very good game, catching seven passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns. UCF is bowl eligible, with a 6-6 (4-4) record, and will soon find out where their postseason destination.
USF finishes the regular season at 10-2 (7-1), the best record in program history. Their loss to Temple earlier in the season, prevents their appearance in the conference championship game. Possible rankings in the top 25 polls may get them into a better bowl game, however.
