ORLANDO, Fla.– Scott Frost’s triumphant takeover as UCF head coach went off without a hitch on Saturday night as the Knights shellacked the South Carolina State Bulldogs in a 38-0 route at Bright House Networks Stadium.
Up 18-0 with only 151 yards in the first quarter, the UCFast offense sprang to life in the second half to tally 20 more points and 311 total yards. The 91 plays made were the most made in a game since 2002 against Kent State, a 92 play affair.
“We don’t make rah-rah speeches around here very much,” said Coach Frost about the second half turnaround. “The guys are going to be excited. if they are about football they’re going to be excited.”
Quarterback Justin Holman’s performance was indicative of the offense as a whole – even to the point of his first half nerves.
“I don’t think Justin gets nervous,” Frost insisted. “I think he was almost too amped up. I saw him before the game and it looked like he drank eleven Red Bulls, but he settled in nicely.”
He settled down as the game wore on, praised universally by teammates who reinforced their support after the game. Each player who spoke on the issue claimed it was just first-game jitters, as the initial onset and panic of a new system works itself out. Holman ended the day on solid footing, posting a line of 14-28 completions. 193 yards, 2 TD and zero interceptions while tacking on 63 rushing yards.
The offense’s true strength was revealed with authority on the ground. UCF’s rushing attack posted 197 yards on the ground. Standing tall among the running-back-by-committee approach were Jawon Hamilton and Taj McGowan – combining for 25 carries and 105 yards.
Though the offensive production sputtered in the first half placekicker Matthew Wright was the answer Scott Frost was looking for in times of trouble. Wright set a career high with four field goals; from 34, 37, 45 and 46 yards out.
South Carolina State had no answer for the quick-paced Knights’ defense, looking completely gassed towards the end of the game. UCF defenders revealed afterwards that they knew exactly how the opposition felt, and that they were prepared in every way for the physical test of balancing an offense racing to get plays off.
It was important for UCF to get a win after what has seemed like an eternity without one, but the true victory on Saturday night was for the system itself. The world glimpsed for the first time what the UCFast, UCFierce mentality translated to beyond rhetoric.
“I want our kids to play aggressively and know that our coaches are behind them to do those kinds of things,” Frost cemented.”
The translation was simple: Scott Frost’s Knights will never take their foot off of the gas pedal. On display was an aggressiveness in completing fourth down conversions, taking shots to the end zone for two-point conversions, a pace that wears down the opposition rapidly in the second half and a penchant for letting game-changers do best – make plays.
