Check back at the end of each quarter for live updates on The Civil Conflict, as the 0-5 Knights pursue the season’s first win. Follow @UCFKnightnews and @KnightNewsSport for play-by-play action.
UCONN takes the coin toss and elects to defer – UCF will start the first half with possession.
First Quarter:
Holman opens up the quarter to Tre’Quan Smith for twelve yards and a first down, beginning what proved to be night and day for the Knights’ offense this season. Nick Patty finds a hole in the defense for a gain of eight yards to midfield. Holman throws a pass to C.J. Jones who cleared through defenders over for a four yard first down. Holman again finds an open man, this time to Taylor Oldham for thirteen yards, and soon to Jordan Franks to advance the drive twenty-five yards down to the UCONN 4 yard line. Short gains and stalled runs led to a nineteen yard field goal attempt, good for the Knights.
FIELD GOAL, UCF! UCF – 3 UCONN – 0
The UCF defense halted UCONN’s offense to a third down situation but allowed a pass to slip through. A lone receiver in the back field brought the Huskies to a 29 yard completion to the UCF 22 yard line. UCONN quarterback Bryant Shirreffs carried the ball to the UCF 1 but would bring back the line of scrimmage five yards for delay of game. The Huskies overcame the small setback with a carry to the endzone for six points and later a seventh.
TOUCHDOWN, UCONN. UCF – 3 UCONN – 7
Hayden Jones’ first career kick-off reception led to hesitation at the UCF end zone and a safety against the Knights.
SAFETY, UCONN. UCF – 3 UCONN – 9
A UCONN false start made a first a fifteen situation to start the drive. A ten yard pass and four yard loss brought the ball to the UCONN 35 on a third down. An unsuccessful conversion makes it UCF ball.
C.J. Jones picks up fifteen yards on a first down, weaving through the carry. After two attempts, Wilson becomes wide open on a third down situation but has the ball bounce out of his hands for an incompletion.
UCONN advances thirty-four yards on two passes, also picking up a five yard illegal procedure penalty to the UCONN 42 – the drive continues nineteen yards on a reception. The Husky offense stalls on the following set after UCONN QB Bryant Shirreffs has his pass broken up and a rush sees no gain to end the first quarter.
Second Quarter:
A UCONN third down conversion is succesfully made after a wide middle lane opens up for a QB rush into the red zone. An eleven yard pick-up brings the Huskies to the UCF 23 and no luck on the next four plays makes it a turnover on downs for the Knights at the UCF 3.
Freshman Tre’Quan Smith’s eighteen yard reception is ruled incomplete which brings the ball to fourth and three for a UCF punt.
Another illegal formation from the Connecticut team give UCF five yards of breathing room and a QB sack on the next play. UCONN attempts to make up for lost yardage with a thirty-six yard pass but a ten yard holding penalty would bring the ball to the second an thirty-one at the UCONN 41. Small gains could not make up the deficit for the visiting team – UCF ball.
A UCONN player picks up a punt in the UCF end zone to make it first and ten for the Knights at the UCONN 25 on the illegal procedure. Two large gains on a run and a reception advance UCF twenty-seven yards. A false start in favor of UCONN turns a second and six to a second and 11.
A touchback and a fifteen yard personal foul give the Huskies thirty-five yards from the end zone.
UCONN QB Bryant Shirreffs is sacked twice by the UCF defense for a loss of six and five yards, respectively. A five yard offensive holding penalty is declined by UCF, and a failed rush attempt on a fourth and eleven has UCF on the receiving end of a punt.
Justin Holman’s rush well over the line is overturned by a holding penalty on the offensive line. An interception by Jhav. Williams leads to a turnover in the red zone and soon a UCONN touchdown.
TOUCHDOWN, UCONN. UCF – 3 UCONN – 16
Another dropped pass by the wide receivers botches a large UCF gain. Holman fires a bullet pass down the middle of the field and into the arms of a defenseman for an interception.
The Knights begin to fall fast after an opening pass to Husky receiver Noel Thomas leads to a touchdown.
TOUCHDOWN, UCONN. UCF – 3 UCONN – 23
The offense sparks on a thirty-two yard completion to C.J. Jones but a ten yard holding penalty soon sets back to the Knights. A fifteen yard UCONN personal foul would overturn the loss. A fifteen yard UCF facemask penalty keeps the Knights at bay into the end of the second quarter.
HALFTIME: UCF – 3 UCONN – 23
Third Quarter:
UCONN’s kickoff return brought them to the UCF 29 and a series of small gains later led to a field goal from twenty-one yards out.
FIELD GOAL, UCONN. UCF – 3 UCONN – 26
UCF posted an unsuccessful drive gaining five yards on a pass and three yards on a rush, respectively. The Knights punt away forty-five yards to the back field.
The Huskies take advantage of the stall and put up eleven yards on a pass and fifty-eight to a lone receiver riding the sideline. A rush for twelve yards earns UCONN six points and a successful one point conversion.
TOUCHDOWN, UCONN. UCF – 3 UCONN – 33
Justin Holman’s pass intended for running back Michael Willet is complete for eleven yards and Jordan Franks finds one from Holman for a gain of one. Two incompletes force a punt to UCONN.
UCONN plays it safe on their drive, keeping the ball on the ground for gains of eight, four, seventeen and five yards before being stalled and sacked until a forced punt – a fifth sack to the Husky offense this game.
On the recieving end of a punt, UCF’s Chris Johnson dives and lets the ball slip for a fumble recovered by UCONN at the UCF 16.
The drive start sees a pickup of six and thirteen yards, respectively, although the six yard gain becomes a no play after an illegal formation. UCONN finds an easy touchdown on its third try of the drive, rushing for eight yards with 1:53 left in the third quarter.
TOUCHDOWN, UCONN. UCF – 3 UCONN – 40
UCF closes the third quarter on a twenty-seven yard reception and rush down the field.
Fourth Quarter:
The Knights open the drive with an incompletion and five yard reception followed by an interception touchback by UCONN. Another offensive penalty retreats the line of scrimmage ten yards. The Huskies fail to progress and end up with a loss of ten yards on their drive.
A long drive from UCF sees some hope after a successful forty-five yard field goal attempt.
FIELD GOAL, UCF! UCF – 6 UCONN – 40
UCONN keeps the ball on the ground as Max DeLorenzo runs all three small-gain plays and a loss of five before a punt to UCF.
Justin Holman completes a twelve yard pass to Nick Patti but finds no luck on the following three attempts, soon punting away possession.
Josh Marriner continues where DeLorenzo left off, keeping the ball on the ground before turning over possession.
Holman goes on a play-making streak late in the fourth with fifty yards made in pass-receptions and fifteen yards rushing over the line, leading to a UCF touchdown at 1:38 left in the game.
TOUCHDOWN, UCF! UCF – 13 UCONN – 40
The Huskys run out the clock to wrap up ‘The Civil Conflict.’
FINAL: UCF – 13 UCONN – 40
Photo Credit: Aileen Perilla
