Sept. 2, 2006
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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Steven Moffett threw for 199 yards and three touchdowns as UCF opened its season with a 35-16 win over Villanova University.
It was the first time UCF won a season opener in eight years.
Senior wideout Mike Walker, playing his first game since recovering from a knee injury last season, had six catches for 77 yards and two touchdowns.
Villanova actually outgained UCF in total yardage 322-304, but the Wildcats stopped themselves with an interception and two missed field goals. They also failed to convert a fourth-and-one at the UCF 26 early in the second half.
Moffett was nearly perfect in the first half when UCF jumped out to a 28-7 lead. After going three-and-out on his first possession, the UCF quarterback went 10-for-10 for 146 yards and three touchdowns as UCF scored on four straight possessions.
Willie Thornton took a 20-yard pass for the first score of the game, and Walker followed with touchdown catches of three and 13 yards. Jason Peters capped the first half scoring with a 1-yard plunge that made it 28-7.
Villanova cut the deficit to 28-16 when Darrell Young blocked a UCF punt out of the endzone for a safety and Anton Ridley followed that with a 16-yard scoring pass from Marvin Burroughs.
However, UCF's Kevin Smith capped a 14-play, 77-yard drive with a 1-yard plunge to put the game away for the Golden Knights.