College Football

UCF Defense Shuts Out South Carolina State 38-0 in Home Opener

Published

8 years ago

September 8, 2018

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – After scoring 56 points on the road last week against UConn, the UCF Knights opened their home side of the 2018 season with a 38-0 victory over the South Carolina State Bulldogs on Saturday night. Even though Heisman Trophy candidate McKenzie Milton threw three first half interceptions, the UCF defense stole the show.

UCF safety Kyle Gibson (25) delivers a big play after running back a blocked field goal attempt by South Carolina State Bulldogs at UCF Spectrum Stadium Saturday September 8, 2018. (Photo by Willie David / Florida National News)

Led by senior middle linebacker Pat Jasinski, UCF held the Bulldogs to 257 yards in total offense and had 3 interceptions. Most importantly, the Knights forced the Bulldogs to 1 for 10 on third down. South Carolina State went 3 for 15 on third downs and missed both attempts for 4th down conversions. SC State quarterbacks combined to complete 6 out of their 19 pass attempts.

Adrian Killins Jr. led the rushing attack for the UCF Knights scoring two touchdowns in the opening quarter at UCF Spectrum Stadium Saturday September 8, 2018. (Photo by Willie David / Florida National News)

On the offensive side of the ball, Adrian Killins Jr. led the rushing attack for the Knights. After scoring two touchdowns in the opening quarter, Killins had a total of 8 carries for 89 yards in the game as most of the UCF starters sat the entire 4th quarter. UCF finished with yards on the ground and three of the running backs had over 40 yards rushing (Killings, Greg McCrae and Otis Anderson).

Milton finished the game throwing for 243 yards in the air, but throughout most of the opening half wasn’t as effective as he was the previous week. McKenzie went 10 for 23 in the first half for 130 yards, but in the third quarter he went 11 for 16 with his only touchdown pass of the game to Gabriel Davis. Davis had his first career 100-yard receiving game and had 9 catches for 111 yards with the touchdown.

UCF’s next game will be on September 15 against the North Carolina Tarheels on the road in Chapel Hill. They will return home on Friday September 21st as they take on Florida Atlantic on ESPN at 7pm. South Carolina State will play North Carolina Central at home next Saturday.

Scoring Summary:

1st Quarter:

UCF – Killins Jr. 3-yard touchdown run – 3 plays, 41 yards – 0:23 (UCF 7-0, 11:26 left)
UCF – Killins Jr. 24-yard touchdown run – 2 plays, 26 yards – 0:35 (UCF 14-0, 3:06 left)

2nd Quarter:

UCF – Wright 25-yard field goal – 8 plays, 51 yards – 1:32 (UCF 17-0 11:02 left)
UCF – Anderson 1-yard touchdown run – 20 plays, 94 yards – 4:48 (UCF 24-0, 0:10 left)

3rd Quarter:

UCF – Davis 13-yard touchdown catch from Milton – 5 plays, 49 yards – 0:42 (UCF 31-0, 8:08 left)
UCF – McCrae 32-yard touchdown run – 3 plays, 64 yards – 0:38 (UCF 38-0, 5:39 left)

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

Central Florida News

USF Comes Up Short at UTSA as Late Touchdown Seals 31-24 Loss

Published

2 weeks ago

October 9, 2026

NISEY LOU S.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — USF running back D.J. Crowther (5) crosses the goal line on a 15-yard touchdown run to open the scoring against UTSA Thursday night at the Alamodome. Photo by Stephen Galvin / University of South Florida Athletics.

South Florida held an early advantage and reclaimed the lead late, but UTSA’s second-half execution proved to be the difference Thursday night at the Alamodome.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (FNN SPORTS) — South Florida gave itself a chance to steal a road win Thursday night, but UTSA answered when it mattered most, defeating the Bulls 31-24 at the Alamodome.

USF struck first behind D.J. Crowther, who broke through for a 15-yard touchdown run to give the Bulls an early advantage. Quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. helped keep South Florida’s offense moving throughout the night as the Bulls continued to respond whenever UTSA threatened to take control.

USF stayed within reach from start to finish, but the second half belonged to a UTSA offense that consistently found a way to finish drives.

UTSA Finds Its Rhythm

Running back A’Marion Peterson became the difference-maker for the Roadrunners, finishing with 92 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

UTSA scored on every second-half possession, gradually shifting momentum away from a USF team that continued to battle offensively. The Roadrunners leaned heavily on their ground game while keeping the Bulls from building any sustained separation.

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Central Florida News

Temple Hands USF First Loss, 17-13

Published

3 weeks 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

4 weeks 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.