UCF 24 (6-4, 4-2 AAC) vs. Cincinnati 3 (4-6, 1-5 AAC)
Nov. 12, 2016 | Bright House Networks Stadium Stadium | Attendance: 30,346
Weather: Partly Cloudy | Temp: 72 degrees | Wind: 3 MPH from the North/Northeast
UCF Captains
- UCF's captains for the game were redshirt junior LB Chequan Burkett, senior QB Justin Holman, sophomore RB Taj McGowan and redshirt sophomore TE Chris Larsen.
The Toss
- Cincinnati won the toss and deferred; UCF chose to receive; Cincinnati elected to defend the north end zone.
Team Notes
- UCF and Cincinnati have played just twice in the all-time series between the two teams.
- The Knights and the Bearcats have now both won on their home field, as Cincinnati won last season's battle at Nippert Stadium.
- With the win, the Knights became bowl eligible for the seventh time in the last 10 years.
- It will mark the eighth total bowl game in program history.
- Following last year's winless season, the Knights have now won six games in 2016, marking the second biggest turnaround for a winless team since 2004. The only other team to go winless and then reach a bowl in the following season during that span was also the Knights in 2004 (0-11) and then 2005 (8-5).
Offensive Notes
- With a five-yard reception in the first quarter, Michael Colubiale made his first career catch for the Knights.
- The one-yard touchdown pass from McKenzie Milton to Dredrick Snelson was Milton's ninth on the year and Snelson's second.
- With 13-straight completions in the first half, Milton recorded the second most consecutive completions in UCF history, trailing only Daunte Culpepper's 15 straight in a 52-7 win over Samford on Oct. 11, 1997.
- Jawon Hamilton's 25-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to put UCF ahead 23-3 was his third of the season.
- With 81 yards in the game, Hamilton recorded a career high.
- Cincinnati had picked off 15 passes this season coming into Saturday, ranking third in the nation. They did not have an interception against the Knights' offense.
Defensive Notes
- Shaquem Griffin, who came in ranked 11th in the nation and leading The American with 0.94 sacks per game, now has 10.5 total sacks on the season.
- Griffin's 10.5 sacks are tied for eighth most in a single season in UCF history.
- He also recorded his second fumble recovery of the season.
- Errol Clarke recorded a career high three sacks in the game, doubling his career total. He had three career sacks coming into Saturday.
- Tre Neal's blocked punt in the third quarter was recovered by Justin McDonald and returned for a touchdown. The last blocked punt for a touchdown for the Knights was by Augustus Ashley against Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 29, 2007.
- Seyvon Lowry and Brandon Scott both recorded their first career interceptions for the Knights in the fourth quarter.
Special Team Notes
- With a 22-yard field goal in the first quarter, Matthew Wright made his 12th of the season and 24th in his two-year career.
- Chris Johnson's 22-yard punt return in the first quarter was a season best.
Next Up
- The Knights will host Tulsa next Saturday in UCF's home finale at Bright House Network Stadium. The game does not have a scheduled kickoff time or television network at this point.