In the latest installation of this renewed conference rivalry, UCF trounced the USF Bulls 16-0 in a showcase of defensive prowess on their way to an 8-3 overall, 6-1 conference record.
The defensive line was absolutely dominant for the Knights, solidifying both the pass and rushing defense while holding the Bulls to just 200 yards of total offense – only five of them on the ground.
At no point in the game did the USF offense look like it was playing on the same level as UCF. The Bulls were unable to string together long drives, made major mental mistakes, and failed to take advantage of 3 UCF turnovers that gave them outstanding field position.
When backed into their own territory the Knights came out like rabid dogs, three times keeping the Bulls from scoring from within the red zone. They recorded four sacks, stopped 11 of 15 third down conversions, and allowed under a quarter of a yard per rush.
The Knights’ offense was off-beat for most of the game, failing to put any points on the board until the second quarter and then falling silent for the remainder of the game.
A methodically paced drive produced the first touchdown of the day after Justin Holman orchestrated an 80 yard, 17 play drive that took 7:32 off the clock. Holman found Breshad Perriman with a seven yard pass to secure the score.
Later in the second quarter it was an explosive run by Rannell Hall that did the seven-point damage. Hall was used extensively in the running game in the absence of William Stanback, who has yet to fully recover from a shoulder injury. The touchdown was a galloping 21 yard rush by the versatile receiver.
Perriman finished the day with six receptions, 55 yards and a touchdown while Hall led the team with 65 rushing yards on 10 carries.
Justin Holman turned in a performance that had both its share of promising plays and head scratchers on the way to a line of 20-29 for 150 yards, one touchdown and an interception. The interception was a ball thrown over the middle into tight coverage, though Holman may not have seen the secondary too well as he was rocked on the throw.
The offense did not again put the rock in the end zone as the Knights’ defense cleaned up the second half. Thomas Niles sacked Mike White in his own end zone early in the second half to cap the scoring.
Mike White was consistently surrounded by Black and Gold jerseys, unable to do much of anything before a bone-crushing hit removed him from the game late in the third quarter.
Backup Steven Bench put USF in position to potentially make a come-back run, even bringing the Bulls down to the UCF one-yard line. Faced with a first and goal from the one, the Knights pushed back with a vengeance to protect their shutout.
Darius Tice was stuffed on first down, Miles Pace recorded a sack on second down, and an unnecessary roughness call would move the Bulls back 15 yards further to bring around a third and goal from the UCF 22 yard line. Two incomplete passes and a loss of downs wold epitomize the effectiveness of the Knights defense.
Even when scoring seemed like a sure-fire thing the Knights did not relent, consistently pounding USF into the ground. In a rivalry that has been historically one-sided, this class of Knights is ensuring that the tides begin to turn as for the second year in a row, UCF won a decisive battle in the War on I4.
The Knights will next play at East Carolina on December 4th in their quest for the conference championship. With no tie-breaker in place, it will take a losses from Cincinnati and Memphis to give UCF sole possession of the title.
