College Football

Hughes’ Return Charges UCF To Division Championship

Published

9 years ago

November 24, 2017

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) - Mike Hughes' 95-yard return touchdown in the fourth quarter helped the Knights keep their undefeated season alive, giving them a chance to host the American Athletic Conference Championship game and a potential Big Six bowl game selection. Photo: Brandon Connelly/Florida National News.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The University of Central Florida Knights entered their “War on I-4” showdown with the University of South Florida with everything to lose. The Knights were playing to keep their undefeated season alive, a chance to host the American Conference Championship game and a potential Big Six bowl game selection.

In one of the wildest games you could imagine, UCF defensive back Mike Hughes’s 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with 1:28 to go kept the Knights undefeated season alive.

Hughes, who also had an interception right before halftime, found a seam and broke his second kickoff return for a touchdown this season. The junior, who was averaging over 30 yards a return entering the game, brought the sold-out crowd to its feet and gave the Knights their first “War on I-4” trophy since 2014. With the touchdown return, he became the first UCF player to have multiple kickoff return for touchdowns, since Quincy McDuffie in 2012.

With the victory, the Knights will host the American Athletic Conference Football Championship game next Saturday against the Memphis Tigers, a team they defeated 40-13 on September 30th. If the Knights can win that game, they would secure a spot in the College Football Playoff’s Big Six Bowl Games.

Sophomore quarterback McKenzie Milton went 29 for 44 for 373 yards and four touchdowns passing and he ran for a three-yard touchdown as well. Milton threw two of his touchdowns in the fourth quarter as he led the Knights back after trailing to start the final quarter for the first time this season.

McKenzie found wide receiver Dredrick Snelson (who caught a 16-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter) for a 45-yard touchdown pass midway through the quarter to give the Knights the lead at 35-34 and found freshman running back Otis Anderson Jr. for a 23-yard touchdown pass to put the Knights ahead by 8 with 2:21 left.

“He’s playing lights out and he’s not getting enough credit for what he does on the football field. In my opinion, he should be in the Heisman race. If you look at his numbers and what he’s done. I’m not usually one to call attention to an individual player, because it’s about the team and winning, and we have a lot of special players, but McKenzie Milton is one of the best quarterbacks in the country, bar none.” -UCF Head Coach Scott Frost on McKenzie Milton’s performance

South Florida quarterback Quentin Flowers threw an 83-yard touchdown pass to Darnell Salomon and converted a 2-point conversion to tie the game at 42. Flowers was almost unstoppable all game long. Flowers finished with 503 passing yards and another 102 running. His ability to break tackles and his offensive line’s ability to give him time in the pocket allowed him to be able to give his receivers the chance to make plays.

On an emotionally charged Senior Day, South Florida scored the game’s opening touchdown not even 70 seconds into the game. Flowers found Tyre McCants on a 47-yard touchdown pass, where he dragged a UCF defensive back into the end zone while his jersey was being pulled. McCants finished with nine catches for 227 yards and had set the South Florida single game receiving yards mark when he had 201 midway through the second quarter.

47,129 was the 5th largest audience turnout in UCF history and the third largest in Spectrum Stadium history.

“Man the crowd was unbelievable. The crowd when we showed up to the stadium was unbelievable. The students have been supportive. This community is unbelievable. This place is really special, and I saw a glimpse tonight of what it can be.” – UCF Head Coach Scott Frost on the Crowd

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter:

USF – McCants 47-yard TD catch from Flowers (USF 7-0)
UCF – Milton 3-yard TD run (Game Tied at 7)
UCF – Snelson 16-yard TD catch from Milton (UCF 14-7)
UCF – Killins Jr. 15-yard TD run (UCF 21-7)

2nd Quarter:

USF – Alaka 20-yard TD catch from Flowers (Missed extra point – UCF 21-13)
USF – Wilcox 21-yard TD catch from Flowers (UCF 21-20)

3rd Quarter

UCF – Davis 23-yard TD catch from Milton (UCF 28-20)
USF – Tice 6-yard TD run (UCF 28-27)
USF – Flowers 24-yard TD run (USF 34-28)

4th Quarter

UCF – Snelson 45-yard TD catch rom Milton (UCF 35-34)
UCF – Anderson Jr. 23-yard TD catch from Milton (UCF 42-34)
USF – Salomon 83 yard TD catch from Flowers (2-point conversion Flowers to Johnson – Game tied at 42)
UCF – Hughes 95-yard kickoff return for TD (UCF 49-42)

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Danny Thompson is a sports contributor for Florida National News. | info@floridanationalnews.com

Central Florida News

Temple Hands USF First Loss, 17-13

Published

3 days ago

October 4, 2026

NISEY LOU S.

Cameron Seldon races toward the sideline as Temple defenders force him out of bounds. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News

Bulls move to 4-1 as Hartline turns attention toward corrections and the week ahead

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — South Florida’s unbeaten start ended Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium as Temple defeated the Bulls 17-13. USF struck first behind a Nico Gramatica field goal but went into halftime trailing 10-3 before finding momentum after the break.

USF responded in the third quarter as D.J. Crowther’s one-yard touchdown tied the game at 10.

USF and Temple battle at the line of scrimmage. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News

The Bulls’ defense added a key stop when No. 1 C.J. Hicks recovered a Temple fumble in the end zone. Gramatica later connected from 49 yards to give USF a 13-10 fourth-quarter lead. Temple answered with the defining possession of the night, driving 96 yards before quarterback No. 13 Ajani Sheppard scored on a 34-yard run to put the Owls ahead for good.

Temple’s 96-yard fourth-quarter drive became the turning point in the 17-13 finish.

Joshua Porter sprints for catch with Adrian Laing closing in for Temple. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News

USF was unable to answer late, dropping to 4-1. Following the game, head coach Brian Hartline focused on returning to the film, correcting the mistakes that surfaced and making sure the Bulls use the loss to improve heading into the next week.

FINAL: Temple 17, USF 13

Up Next: USF travels to San Antonio to face UTSA on Thursday night.

– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com

Central Florida News

USF Saves Its Best Work for the Fourth in 14-6 Win Over Bowling Green

Published

1 week ago

September 29, 2026

NISEY LOU S.

The Bulls erase a six-point deficit and leave Ohio 4-0 for the first time since 2018.

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (FNN SPORTS) — The first three quarters belonged to a low-scoring game. The fourth belonged to South Florida.

Bowling Green entered the final quarter ahead 6-0, but USF’s defense had kept the margin small enough for one possession to change the direction of the game. Three quiet quarters did not decide this one. The final quarter did.

That opportunity came after a fourth-down stop near midfield.

USF Head Coach Brian Hartline reviewing play. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News.

D.J. Crowther helped move the Bulls downfield, and Luke Kromenhoek finished the possession with a two-yard touchdown run to put USF ahead 7-6.

Crowther was back at the center of the next scoring drive, ending a 72-yard possession with a one-yard touchdown. He finished the afternoon with 143 rushing yards on 23 carries.

Bowling Green’s final drive reached USF territory, but Asani Redwood recorded a late sack before the Falcons came up two yards short on fourth-and-16.

USF walked away with the 14-6 win and its first 4-0 start since 2018.

Central Florida News

USF Pulls Away From Delaware State in 59-17 Win

Published

2 weeks ago

September 20, 2026

NISEY LOU S.

USF Bulls football player No. 5 holds the football and celebrates on the field at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

USF running back D.J. Crowther (5) carries the ball into end zone for a bulls touch down. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News.

D.J. Crowther scores three rushing touchdowns as South Florida turns a four-point first-half game into a convincing home victory.

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — South Florida improved to 3-0 Saturday night with a 59-17 victory over Delaware State at Raymond James Stadium, but the final score did not tell the story of the first half.

Delaware State stayed within striking distance and cut USF’s lead to 21-17 late in the second quarter before the Bulls scored 38 unanswered points to put the game away.

Delaware State made USF work early. The Bulls created separation when the game moved into the second half.

Delaware State Keeps It Close Early

USF struck first, but Delaware State quarterback Ui Ale answered with a 90-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Stewart to tie the game at 7.

The Hornets continued to respond and pulled within four when Ale connected with Jaylin Terzado for a touchdown with 1:18 remaining before halftime.

South Florida answered before the break, with Luke Kromenhoek scoring from one yard out as time expired to send USF into halftime leading 28-17.

Luke Kromenhoek (17) celebrates with teammates after scoring on a one-yard touchdown run as time expired in the first half against Delaware State. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News

What looked like a potential four-point halftime game quickly became an 11-point cushion for South Florida.

Crowther Sparks Second-Half Separation

D.J. Crowther led USF’s ground attack, finishing with 101 yards on eight carries and three touchdowns.

His 39-yard touchdown early in the third quarter helped open the game up as the Bulls held Delaware State scoreless throughout the second half.

USF running back D.J. Crowther (5) carries the ball into end zone for a bulls touch down. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News.

Michael Van Buren Jr. completed 23 of 32 passes for 300 yards and a touchdown, while Joshua Porter led USF with eight catches for 106 yards.

The Bulls finished with 611 total yards, including 290 on the ground.

Michael Van Buren Jr. (3) surveys the field from the pocket as offensive linemen Ethan Green (79) and Caleb Cook (78) work in protection against Delaware State. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News.