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 Defeats UAB 30–10, Secures Fourth Consecutive Bowl-Eligible Season

Published

2 days ago

November 3, 2026

NISEY LOU S.

C.J. Hicks (#1) USF defensive end lines up before the snap during the Bulls’ 30–10 victory over UAB at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on October 31, 2026. Photo by Nisey Spruill / Florida National News

Bulls overcome early deficit behind defensive touchdowns and a record-tying performance from C.J. Hicks.

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The University of South Florida (USF) secured its sixth victory of the season Saturday, October 31, defeating the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) 30–10 at Raymond James Stadium. The victory improved the Bulls’ record to 6–2 overall and 2–2 in American Conference play, making the program bowl-eligible for the fourth consecutive season.

Defense Turns the Game Around

UAB opened the game with a 10–0 first-quarter lead, but South Florida responded with 30 unanswered points, highlighted by two defensive touchdowns.

Defensive end C.J. Hicks delivered one of the game’s most significant performances, recording four sacks to tie the USF single-game record. Two of those sacks forced fumbles that resulted in touchdowns.

Late in the second quarter, Hicks forced a fumble by UAB quarterback Ryder Burton, allowing USF defender Asani Redwood to recover the football and return it six yards for a touchdown. The play gave South Florida a 17–10 halftime lead.

Asani Redwood and UAB #71 UAB defensive lineman #71 attempts to tackle USF’s Asani Redwood during the October 31, 2026, matchup at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Photo by Nisey Spruill / Florida National News

Hicks created another scoring opportunity in the fourth quarter, forcing a second fumble that linebacker Grayson Howard recovered and returned 13 yards for a touchdown, extending USF’s lead to 27–10.

South Florida’s defense finished with six sacks and 11 tackles for loss, limiting UAB to just 177 total offensive yards, including 17 rushing yards.

Offensive Adjustments Provide Momentum

Following an injury to starting quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr., sophomore Luke Kromenhoek entered the game and helped shift momentum in South Florida’s favor.

Luke Kromenhoek (#17) USF quarterback Luke Kromenhoek (#17) carries the football while facing pressure from a UAB defender during the Bulls’ 30–10 victory at Raymond James Stadium on October 31, 2026. Photo by Nisey Spruill / Florida National News

Kromenhoek finished with a career-high 92 rushing yards, including a 42-yard run that helped establish the Bulls’ offensive rhythm.

Running back Jason Collins Jr. added a six-yard rushing touchdown late in the second quarter to tie the game at 10–10.

Kicker Nico Gramatica contributed three field goals, connecting from 31, 30 and 33 yards to help secure the victory.

Bowl Eligibility Marks Another Program Milestone

With its sixth win, South Florida secured bowl eligibility for the fourth consecutive season, matching the second-longest such streak in program history.

The accomplishment allows USF to qualify for postseason bowl consideration, although an official bowl invitation and destination have yet to be determined.

The victory also kept the Bulls competitive in the American Conference standings, with four regular-season games remaining following the UAB matchup.

Looking Ahead

USF will return to conference competition Friday, November 6, traveling to face East Carolina as the Bulls continue their pursuit of a stronger conference finish and a postseason bowl invitation.

Final Score: USF 30, UAB 10

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

Published

4 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

1 month 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.