College Football

UCF Knights Throttle Navy Midshipmen on Homecoming Weekend

Published

8 years ago

November 10, 2018

UCF running back Greg McCrae (#30) makes a run against the Navy Midshipmen at Spectrum Stadium Saturday. Photo: Brandon Connelly/Florida National News.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The Knights showed the Navy Midshipmen why the Knights are the loss-less team to beat for a second season in a row before a homecoming and Veterans Day weekend crowd of over 44,000 fans Saturday.

FIRST HALF

The Knights held the Midshipmen from scoring the whole first quarter while racking up two touchdowns, making the score 14-0.

It wasn’t until three minutes left in the first half that the Navy finally scored, and that after another UCF 34-yard touchdown pass from McKenzie Melton to wide receiver Dredrick Snelson. After having a touchdown pass broken end up in the end zone on third down, the Navy kicked a successful 24-yard field goal, bringing the score to 21-3.

With less than a minute left in the first half, Snelson caught a clutch 20-yard pass with a ground roll for a first down on the Navy 15-yard line. After review, the ruling on the field stood, but the Knights squandered the opportunity for another touchdown with a fumble on the next play, which the Navy recovered, tipping possession in their favor for the second half.

By halftime, the Navy were 3 for 7 in third down conversions with two fumbles (one of which UCF recovered) and no passing yards under their belt. UCF quarterback McKenzie Melton led his team in rushing with 61 yards. Dredrick Snelson led in passing yards with 60. Tre Walker led the Navy in rushing yards with 60 as well.

SECOND HALF

Zach Abey rushed five yards for the Navy’s first touchdown of the game. Navy also got a sack on Milton with a loss of five yards.

Milton rushed the ball five yards in for the Knights’ fourth touchdown, bringing the score to 28-10 with 5:38 left in the third quarter.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Navy got their second touchdown with Mike Martin’s 14-yard run, closing UCF’s lead to 28-17.

UCF’s Marlon Williams made a deep catch, which Navy defensive end Charlton forced out of his hand, causing a fumble, but running back Greg McCrae recovered the ball, keeping the first down for UCF.

To spite the Navy, Milton fired another touchdown pass to Nelson, this one for 12 yards, bringing the score to 35-17 four minutes into the fourth.

With 3:34 left in the game, the Navy scored their next touchdown with Zach Abey’s eight yard scramble, making the score 35-24 UCF, which became the final score.

The Knights’ last home game will be against the Cincinnati Bearcats November 17.

______________________________________________

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.