On an evening of torrential downpours in Orlando where there was over seven inches of rain, the UCF Knights overcame the weather to beat the Marshall Thundering Herd 16-6 at Bright House Networks Stadium.
The Knights were coming into the game looking to snap a two game skid coming off of a bye week and their first home game since September 10th.
The inclement weather forced the Knights to run the ball, and that is exactly what they did. UCF running back Brynn Harvey started the game off with a 50-yard rush from scrimmage, his longest of the season. On that same drive, Harvey carried four more times all the way to the five-yard line.
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Jeff Godfrey threw his first touchdown pass of the season- to A.J. Guyton- following Harvey’s run, to put the Knights up 7-0.
The Knights kept the ball moving on the ground, and that led to their second score with Latavius Murray taking in it for a four yard score to put the Knights up 14-0.
By the end of the first quarter, Harvey, who redshirted last year with a knee injury, had already rushed for over 100 yards.
“I felt real good, I got behind the line and let them do the blocking,” Harvey said.
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He finished the game with an impressive 180 yards on 30 carries.
UCF played sound defense during the first half, and even recorded their first safety since Oct 26, 2008 at Tulsa. The Knights only allowed 48 net offensive yards in the first half, while having 243 of their own.
The UCF offense slowed down considerably in the second half, going 0-for-three on third down conversions. Solid defense kept the Thundering Herd from getting into dangerous territory.
It wasn’t until three minutes remaining in the third quarter that Harvey fumbled on the wet field that led to Marshall’s one and only touchdown of the game.
Even with the fumble, head coach George O’Leary kept the utmost confidence in Harvey.
“Brynn is a running back; Brynn hit the holes when he had to hit them.”
With five minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Knights were on the Marshall 11-yard line, closing in on a touchdown. However, Godfrey threw his only interception of the game that gave the Thundering Herd a fighting chance to comeback.
The Knights defense came up big, forcing a three and out, ensuing the previous interception.
The Knights held onto the ball and finished the rainy night with a win in their first conference game of the season.
UCF continues its conference slate with a matchup in Dallas, Texas against SMU in what the Knights hope will be their first road victory of the season.
Coach O’Leary is approaching this game with caution.
“They’re a good football team. We have to show up with our A-game.”
