Dec. 3, 2005
UCF Post Game Notes
UCF vs. Tulsa - Inaugural C-USA Championship Game
December 3, 2005
Florida Citrus Bowl
Team Notes
Tulsa defeated UCF 44-27 in the inaugural Conference USA Football Championship game Saturday afternoon at the Florida Citrus Bowl. A school-record crowd of 51,978 witnessed the game.
UCF's previous record for single-game attendance at the Florida Citrus Bowl was 50,220 on Nov. 11, 2000 vs. Virginia Tech.
UCF scored for the sixth time this season on its opening drive. Junior QB Steven Moffett tossed a 43-yard touchdown pass to freshman WR Willie Thornton to give UCF a 7-0 lead. The touchdown reception was the first of Thornton's career.
UCF's 20 points in the second quarter set a season-high.
UCF entered the game fourth in the NCAA in turnover differential (1.36) but the Golden Knights finished Saturday's game -4 in turnover differential vs. Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane did not commit a turnover while UCF had three (two interceptions, two fumbles).
Player Notes
Freshman TB Kevin Smith's 31-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was the longest rushing TD of his career. Smith had two carries of 30-plus yards on UCF's 92-yard scoring drive.
Smith went over the century mark in the first half with 12 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown. It was Smith's fourth 100-yard game of the season. He ended the game with 15 carries for 108 yards.
Smith moved into sixth place in UCF single-season history with 976 rushing yards on the season.
Senior PK Matt Prater booted two first half field goals to move into a tie for third place in school history with 46 career field goals. Prater was 2-for-2 in the first half on field goal attempts (46 yards, 40 yards).
Freshman CB Joe Burnett returned his second punt for a touchdown in as many games with a 68-yard return for a touchdown in the second quarter. Burnett is just the third player in school history to return two punts for a touchdown in the same season.
The 68-yard punt return for touchdown was the sixth longest punt return in UCF history. The touchdown was part of a 17-0 run by the Golden Knights that erased a 21-7 deficit into a 24-21 advantage in the second quarter.
Senior WR Brandon Marshall led UCF with seven receptions for 109 yards. It marked Marshall's sixth 100-yard receiving game of the season, which leads the team.