UCF stays resilient and outduels Temple 52-40

Read Time:1 Minute, 48 Second

The undefeated UCF Knights (8-0) returned to the friendly confines of Spectrum Stadium in Orlando. The return would find themselves trailing at half-time for the first time at home this season to the Temple Owls by the score of 34-28. The Knights defense surrendered 445 yards in the first half, however, once again they showed resiliency in the second half only giving up six points to the Owls.

It was the second time in the last three games the Knights defense gave up more than 30 points in the first half only to come back in the second half with dominant performances. The win extends UCF’s winning streak to 21 games with each victory featuring 30 or more points by the potent UCF offense.

UCF starting quarterback McKenzie Milton threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns and his counterpart was equally impressive.

Your starting QB… Mil🔟

🤙 pic.twitter.com/sPAFjORdZ1

— UCF Football 😷 (@UCF_Football) November 1, 2018

Temple Quarterback Anthony Russo completed 31 of 52 passes for 444 yards and four touchdowns for Temple. They had a three-game winning streak snapped despite gaining 670 yards on a night the teams combined to gain over 1,300 yards.

LET’S GOOOO @NikeheadGreg pic.twitter.com/8VrYSNdQPE

— UCF Football 😷 (@UCF_Football) November 2, 2018

The difference in this game turned out to be the UCF running game featuring third-string running back Greg McCrae, who rushed for 188 yards. He did most of his damage in the second half with back-breaking runs which eventually caused the Temple Owls to wave the white flag. Temple running back Ryquell Armstead rushed for 142 yards but did most of his damage in the first half. UCF’s depth on offense was too much for the Temple defense as the floodgates started to come open in the fourth quarter.

As for poll implications, we will know more after Saturday’s action which features battles between two top 10 teams and also number five Michigan having to go on the road to play at Penn State. There’s a good chance that there will be two or three teams ahead of the Knights that lose on Saturday so we should continue to see the Knights rise in the polls.