College Football
UCF Knights Carve Up SMU Mustangs with 48-20 win
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The UCF Knights (1-0 AAC, 4-0 overall) had a hot start against the SMU Mustangs (1-0 AAC, 2-3 overall) at Spectrum Stadium Saturday night.
No. 12 UCF, the defending American Athletic Conference champions, extended its national winning steak to 18 games after defending SMU 48-20 in Orlando.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Though SMU got on the board first with Kevin Robledo’s field goal, the Knights were able to capitalize on SMU’s mistakes, including a 15-yard facemask penalty and a punt return fumble, which the Knights recovered.
UCF Knights running back Adrian Killins, Jr (9) scores touchdown against SMU Mustangs in Orlando Saturday, October 6, 2018. (Photo by Willie David / Florida National News)
McKenzie Milton nailed a 14-yard pass to Dredrick Snelson for their second touchdown, scored within minutes of their first–a 15-yard run by Adrian Killins. UCF scored their third with less than three minutes left in the first quarter with a four-yard run by Otis Andreson. The score was already 21-3 by second quarter.
Both teams were on the ball in red zone chances: SMU 1 for 1 and UCF 3 for 3. SMU was 1 for 4 in third down conversions and UCF was 5 for 6.
SMU Mustangs James Proche (3) scores touchdown against UCF Knights in Orlando Saturday, October 6, 2018. (Photo by Willie David / Florida National News)
SMU scored their first touchdown halfway into the second quarter with a touchdown pass to James Proche, bringing the score to 21-10, UCF.
UCF Knights star quarterback McKenzie Milton (10) injured in the 1st half of the game after taking a hard hit by SMU defenders. (Photo by Willie David / Florida National News)
Milton left the game briefly in the second quarter after taking a hard hit by two SMU defenders.
With 3:23 left in the first half, UCF’s Matthew Wright successfully kicked a 43-yard field goal, making the score 24-10.
UCF kicked a 34-yard field goal to close out the first half, making the score 27-10 at halftime.
The Knights held their ground in the second half, scoring again in the third and fourth quarters. SMU managed another field goal in the third quarter and a touchdown in the fourth, ending their scoring run at 20 points. The Knights closed out their scoring at 48 points, making the final score 48-20.
The Knights hit the road for two games (at Memphis October 13 and ECU October 20) before returning home November 1 to face Temple at 7:30pm. The Mustangs have one more road match at Tulane October 20 before returning to their home to face Cincinnati October 27.
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Mellissa Thomas is Editor for Florida National News. | mellissa.thomas@floridanationalnews.com
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
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.
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.
After surviving Delaware State’s early push, USF leaned on its depth and rushing attack to take control.
Bulls Move to 3-0
The win gives South Florida its first 3-0 start since 2018 under first-year head coach Brian Hartline.
Delaware State fell to 2-2 despite Ale throwing for 249 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
For USF, the win followed a dramatic comeback victory over Army one week earlier — this time with far less late-game drama.
Up Next
USF travels to Bowling Green on Sept. 26, while Delaware State returns home to face Towson.
– 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
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