College Football

UCF Knights Slaughter Cincinnati Bearcats 38-13 in Primetime

Published

8 years ago

November 17, 2018

UCF Knights' Tre Nixon (#16) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Spectrum Stadium Saturday night. Photo: Florida National News.

ORLANDO (FNN SPORTS) – The UCF Knights and Cincinnati Bearcats faced off before a Spectrum Staidum that was full to capacity Saturday night. The crowd was so thunderous, the fans’ stomps and jumps quaked the press box, and could possibly have thrown off the Bearcats–at least at first.

FIRST HALF

The Bearcats possessed the ball first and their first three plays were a delay of game, a false start and an incomplete pass. In that order. However, the Bearcats did eventually get their bearing and managed to get on the board first with a touchdown by way of a fumble at the goal line, bringing the score to 6-0.

With seven minutes left in the first quarter, the Knights scored their first touchdown with quarterback McKenzie Milton’s three-yard scramble into the end zone, making the score 7-6.

The stadium erupted in the last 20 seconds of the first quarter. Cincinnati attempted a field goal, which UCF’s Joey Connors blocked. UCF’s Brandon Moore then recovered the ball and returned it for 53 yards. The Knights finished the job as soon as the second quarter began, with Adrian Killins Jr. nailing the 17-yard touchdown pass from Milton, widening UCF’s lead to 14-6.

UCF got their next touchdown with less than six minutes left in the first half, and on a third down to boot. Milton threw the 36-yard touchdown pass to Tre Nixon, bringing the score to 21-6.

Neither team was able to score again before halftime, but Cincinnati appeared to be cracking under UCF’s pressure between multiple consecutive false starts, incomplete passes and the sack on Desmond Ridder with a seven-yard loss. The score remained 21-6 at halftime.

SECOND HALF

In the third quarter, the Knights’ Matthew Wright managed to miss a field goal roughly six minutes in, but the Knights made up for it with another touchdown with less than six minutes left. Killins came through again, completing a 42-yard touchdown pass from Milton and Wright’s extra point attempt was good, raising the score to 28-6.

The Bearcats had two turnovers in the third quarter, the last of which happened near the end with UCF’s Pat Jasinski forcing a fumble on Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder which UCF’s Keenan Johnson recovered–and that after the sack by Titus Davis for a five-yard loss.

Milton was sacked as well for a seven-yard loss by Cincinnati’s Kimoni Fitz much earlier in the quarter.

The Knights opened the fourth quarter with another touchdown and successful extra point for a 35-6 score. However, the Bearcats answered back with their second touchdown, bringing them into the double digits with a score of 35-13. UCF went pass-free for the fourth quarter and placed the nail in the coffin with less than five minutes left in the game thanks to Matthew Wright’s successful 33-yard field goal, making the final score 38-13.

The Knights next play USF at Raymond James Stadium on Black Friday, November 23.

_______________________________________________

Mellissa Thomas is Editor for Florida National News. | mellissa.thomas@floridanationalnews.com

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Central Florida News

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

Published

7 days 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.

(more…)

Central Florida News

Temple Hands USF First Loss, 17-13

Published

2 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

2 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.