Oct. 27, 2004
ORLANDO - UCF quarterback Steven Moffett threw for a career-high 322 yards and two touchdowns in the Golden Knights' 26-21 loss to Akron Saturday evening at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Moffett established career-highs in completions (30), attempts (41) and yards in the five-point loss.
UCF dropped to 0-6 overall, 0-3 in the MAC while Akron raised its record to 3-4 overall and 3-1 in the MAC.
The Zips jumped out to an early 10-0 lead. Akron scored on its first drive of the game, marching 12 plays for 77 yards as Jason Swiger connected on a 20-yard field goal. After a fumbled snap by Moffett, the Zips started inside the UCF 10 yard line and Brett Biggs scored from nine yards out to give Akron a 10-0 advantage with 4:01 remaining in the first quarter.
UCF scored its first touchdown of the game on a 39-yard touchdown run by sophomore tailback Dontavius Wilcox. Wilcox made his first career at tailback for an injured Alex Haynes and ran for his longest career rush of 39 yards on the touchdown scamper to close the lead to 10-7. The touchdown run came just after UCF converted a fourth down to keep the drive alive at mid-field.
Akron scored with just 27 seconds left in the first half as Charlie Frye found Kris Kasparek on a two-yard touchdown pass to extend the Akron lead to 17-7.
The Zips scored first in the second half with a 40-yard field goal by Swiger to extend the lead to 20-7. Akron used a 10-play drive to increase the lead to 13 with 4:53 remaining in the third quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, UCF's Luther Huggins fumbled the kickoff and the Zips recovered on the UCF 29-yard line. From there, the Zips used seven plays capped off by a four-yard touchdown pass from Frye to Dan Basch to give Akron a 26-7 lead. The Zips failed on their two-point conversion.
UCF scored its first points of the second half in the fourth quarter on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Steven Moffett to Tavaris Capers to cut the deficit to 26-14. The touchdown reception was Capers' 17th of his career, which moved him into a tie for sixth place in UCF history.
UCF was driving again in the fourth quarter with just over eight minutes remaining, but Akron's Dionte Henry intercepted Moffett at the Zips' six-yard line.
The Golden Knights closed the gap to 26-21 with 31 seconds remaining when Moffett hit Huggins on a 23-yard touchdown pass. UCF attempted an onside kick on the kickoff, but Akron gained possession and ran out the clock.
UCF returns to action Saturday in Oxford, Ohio vs. Miami (Ohio). Kickoff is set for 7:06 p.m. and the game is on ESPN's GamePlan pay-per-view package.