UCF overcomes lackluster game to beat SC. State 38-0

Read Time:1 Minute, 49 Second

In front of a near capacity crowd of 42,869, the Central Florida Knights controlled the tempo in an easy 38-0 victory over the South Carolina State Bulldogs.

Quarterback Mackenzie Milton, a Heisman Trophy candidate, overcame three interceptions in the first 17 minutes to finish with 241 yards passing and a 35.7 QB rating. He would finish 21 of 39 for 243 yards and a touchdown pass to Gabriel Davis (9 catches for 111 yards). After the game, Milton said: “I didn’t get into a good rhythm and I missed some easy throws. “It was definitely a subpar performance by myself and the offense.”

Davis had his first career 100-yard receiving game but talked more about how the offense struggled.

Our house 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ZNxHd7VrgV

— UCF Knights 🌴 (@UCFKnights) September 8, 2018

Though the game was a rout, it not a typical performance from an offense that ran through college football last year.

The Knights amassed 315 rushing yards on 47 attempts, led by Adrian Killins 89 yards on eight carries with two touchdowns, both coming in the first quarter. His running mates, Greg McRae (five carries for 62 yards and a touchdown, and Otis Anderson (eight carries for 42 yards and a touchdown), chipped in on the ground attack.

Meantime, the Knights defense wore down South Carolina State’s offense throughout the game, collecting three interceptions, four sacks, allowing only 80 yards passing and 257 total yards. The UCF defense was extremely stingy to SC St. quarterbacks Tyrece Nicks (5-12 54 yards and two picks), and Dewann Ford (two interceptions).

It all added up to a win to extend the nations longest winning streak to 15 games for UCF. It was also the first shutout for the Knights since they shutout this same team, by the same score two years ago,

UCF will look to stay in the Top 25 this coming week, but Milton may have taken a hit in his Heisman bid with the subpar performance.

Despite the easy victory on Saturday Coach Heupel indicated “the team still has work to do” as they prepare for a road game next Saturday against 0-2 North Carolina in their home opener.