Oct. 28, 2005
GREENVILLE, N.C. - UCF returns to action on Saturday, facing host East Carolina for a Conference USA matchup. The contest will mark the Golden Knights (4-3, 3-1 C-USA) second league road game of the season. East Carolina (3-4, 2-2) leads the all-time series, 4-0. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
The contest is available to UCF fans through the All-Access pay-per-view package as originally planned. In Orlando, the matchup is available via digital cable pay-per-view on Bright House Networks.
The game will also be carried as a special addition on DISH satellite television nationwide, available to "America's Top 120" subscribers on channel 451. In addition, the game will be streamed live online through the All-Access broadband package, available at the www.UCFathletics.com site.
The UCF ISP Network and its flagship station 740- The Team AM (WQTM) will broadcast the game live. Marc Daniels will once again have the call with Gary Parris. Jerry O'Neill will handle the sideline duties. Network affiliates in include WMMV-1350 in Cocoa, WDCF-1350 Dade City, WROD-1340 in Daytona Beach and WMMB-1240 Melbourne
Fans looking for a more extensive preview and UCF head coach George O'Leary's thoughts on East Carolina, should tune into "The George O'Leary Show," which will air Friday at 5:30 p.m. on Sun Sports and again Saturday at 1 p.m. on WESH-2.
The last meeting between the teams came in 1996, with the Pirates claming a 28-7 victory at home.
"East Carolina is a conference game within our division," said O'Leary. "As I tell the players, every game is a big game and this is a big one because it is a conference game. I think the players understand that."
About East Carolina
East Carolina is coming off a tough 27-24 loss at Memphis last week. The Pirates were down by as many as 17 points, but rallied before the Tigers held on for the victory. Quarterback James Pinkney led the way at Memphis, completing 26-of-46 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Aundrae Allison hauled in 10 catches for 108 yards and one touchdown in the loss.
Offensively, the Pirates are a pass-first team. Allison ranks first in C-USA in receptions per game and receiving yards per game. He has also hauled in six touchdown catches this season. ECU is ranked fifth in the league in passing offense with an average of 258.9 yards per game through the air. The Pirates are currently ranked 10th in C-USA in rushing offense, averaging just 105.7 yards a game.
On the defensive side of the ball, ECU is currently ranked 2nd overall in C-USA in pass defense, giving up just 161 yards per game through the air. The Pirates have struggled defending the run so far this season. They are ranked last overall in C-USA in rush defense, allowing just over 225 yards per game on the ground.
About UCF
The Golden Knights return to the field after topping visiting Tulane, 34-24, last Friday night. UCF posted 488 yards of total offense in the win. The team passed for 202 yards and ran for 286 versus the Green Wave.
Tailbacks Kevin Smith (113) and Jason Peters (110) both ran for over 100 yards in the victory. On the season, Smith is third in the conference in rushing, averaging 80 yards per contest.
Quarterback Steven Moffett completed 17-of-29 passes for 190 yards with one score against Tulane. He was 7-of-8 passing in the first quarter. This year, he has completed 74.4 percent of his passes in the first 15 minutes of play. Moffett's favorite targets are wideouts Mike Walker (46 receptions, 593 yards, five touchdowns) and Brandon Marshall (38 receptions, 578 yards, six touchdowns).
UCF forced three Green Wave turnovers in the first half last week and held Tulane to just 80 yards on the ground. The Golden Knights totaled four interceptions, including two from cornerback Joe Burnett.