UCF couldn’t capitalize on a quick begin or three interceptions by Phillip Dunnam as Houston rallied within the fourth quarter on Friday evening, handing the Knights their first loss within the annual house recreation, 30-27.
It was a missed alternative for UCF (4-5, 1-5 Massive 12), which wants two wins over the remaining three video games to be bowl eligible. That features street contests at No. 8 Texas Tech (Nov. 14) and No. 7 BYU (Nov. 29) in addition to a house recreation in opposition to Oklahoma State (Nov. 22).
Houston sealed the deal Friday with a virtually 8-minute drive, capped off by a 22-yard game-winning subject purpose by Ethan Sanchez.
Backup Davi Belfort drove the Knights to the UH 24, however his move to Duane Thomas Jr. was intercepted in the long run zone.
“We have to do extra powerful issues on the soccer subject,” stated Frost. “I’m not saying we don’t have powerful guys. We had loads of guys on the market that battled as we speak, however we acquired to get open in opposition to press protection higher and we’ve acquired to complete blocks and push piles higher and we’ve acquired to take off and get powerful yards from our quarterback spot higher.”
UCF suffered its first loss (8-1) throughout an area recreation since its inception in 2017.
Virtually every week after surrendering back-to-back touchdowns to Baylor at the beginning of its recreation in opposition to the Bears, UCF confirmed enchancment in its protection in opposition to Houston (8-2, 5-2 Massive 12).
The Cougars kicked off their first drive, making all of it the best way to the UCF 39-yard line. Nonetheless, on a vital fourth-and-5, defensive finish Derrick LeBlanc swatted down a move from Conner Weigman, stopping the drive in its tracks. On their subsequent possession, UH managed to succeed in their very own 43-yard line, however their try to convert on a third-and-11 fell quick.
Whereas the protection was locked in, UCF’s offense couldn’t get out of its personal approach.
The Knights discovered themselves dealing with a third-and-5 on their very own 44-yard line to begin the sport, however a false begin penalty on heart Carter Miller pushed them again to the 39. Unable to transform, they had been pressured to punt the ball away.
On their subsequent drive, UCF managed to maneuver the ball right down to the Houston 12-yard line, however a holding penalty set them again to the 22. They struggled to transform on a third-and-17, which led to Noe Ruelas kicking a 37-yard subject purpose for a 3-0 lead.
Penalties continued to hang-out the Knights, who had been flagged 9 instances, together with 5 pre-snap penalties.
“It’s acquired to get cleaned up,” Frost stated. “We didn’t get many calls. Nonetheless, we are able to tackle these points if we simply play higher and that is going to be a progress course of.”
The protection stepped up once more when Dunnam picked off a Weigman move meant for tight finish Tanner Koziol on a fourth-and-2 on the UCF 28. Dunnam returned the ball 21 yards to the 46.
It was the primary interception by the Knights for the reason that Kansas State recreation on Sept. 27.
UCF athletic director sees change in soccer tradition below coach Scott Frost
UCF acquired a fortunate break within the second quarter when Houston’s Mekhi Mews bobbled the ball throughout a punt and linebacker Jayden McDonald recovered it on the UH 25.
Following a few robust runs by Myles Montgomery, quarterback Tayven Jackson linked with tight finish Dylan Wade on a display screen move. The 6-foot-4 Wade made a diving effort, reaching the soccer as he crossed the top zone, however it was dominated quick.
Montgomery adopted it up with a 1-yard landing run to present UCF a 10-0 lead. It was his fourth of the season and his first speeding landing since Kansas on Oct. 4.
Houston broke by on its subsequent possession as Weigman discovered receiver Amare Thomas open for a 64-yard landing.
To make issues worse, Montgomery left the sport with a shoulder harm halfway by the second quarter.
He was one in all a number of starters to go away the sport with accidents, together with security Braeden Marshall, edge rusher Malachi Lawrence and McDonald.
It was Houston’s flip to benefit from a miscue as linebacker Latreveon McCutchin intercepted Jackson and returned it 45 yards for a pick-6 because the Cougars took the lead 14-10.
UCF answered on its subsequent offensive possession, driving 60 yards earlier than working again Jaden Nixon took the direct snap and sprinted 15 yards for a landing because the Knights retook the lead, 17-14.
“I actually don’t have many different phrases apart from it’s arduous,” Nixon stated of the loss. “We’ve simply acquired to maneuver on. There’s nothing else we are able to do. We now have to point out up, watch the movie, and overview what we are able to do higher.”
Nixon completed with a team-high 62 yards on 11 carries.
It didn’t take lengthy for the Knights to search out the top zone once more as Dunnam intercepted Weigman once more, returning it 43 yards for a pick-6 and a 24-14 lead.
Houston’s Sanchez added a 40-yard subject purpose to chop the result in 24-17 on the half.
The Cougars tied the sport at 24 after Weigman discovered working again Dean Connors open for a 9-yard landing move halfway by the third quarter.
However because the UCF offense struggled, Dunnam stepped up once more, choosing off one other Weigman move late within the third quarter. The Knights had been capable of convert the takeaway right into a 54-yard subject purpose by Noe Ruelas, tying a career-high.
Sanchez added a 30-yard subject purpose at the beginning of the fourth quarter to tie the sport for the second time within the night and the game-winning 22-yarder with 2:31 left within the recreation.
Belfort entered the sport for Jackson, who was scuffling with a hamstring harm, in keeping with Frost.
Jackson was 15 of 29 for 136 yards. He’s thrown at the least one interception in every of the final three video games.
Houston outgained UCF, 433 to 282 in whole offense, as Weigman completed 20 of 32 for 223 passing yards and two touchdowns. He additionally rushed for a team-high 82 yards on 22 carries.
Please discover me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Electronic mail: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Join the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly e-newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF protection.
