Oct. 13, 2006
Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Playing its final non-conference game of the season, UCF dropped a 52-7 contest to visiting Pittsburgh at the Florida Citrus Bowl on Friday evening. The Golden Knights fall to 2-4 with the loss.
Pittsburgh (6-1) opened the game in strong fashion as Lowell Robinson returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. The Panthers scored six times in the first half. The visitors led 38-0 at intermission after they racked up 296 yards in the half, including 162 on the ground.
The contest was televised live nationally on ESPN.
The Panthers increased the lead to 45-0 with 10:26 to play in the third quarter after LaRod Stephens-Howling scored on a six-yard run, his third touchdown of the game.
UCF used a 20-play, 76-yard drive at the end of third quarter to get on the scoreboard. Sophomore tailback Kevin Smith (Miami, Fla./Southridge HS) capped the drive with a one-yard scoring run.
Smith carried the ball 20 times for 70 yards. Junior Kyle Israel (Orlando, Fla./University HS) spent most of the time at quarterback and completed 13-of-19 attempts for 158 yards. Senior wideout Mike Walker (Orlando, Fla./Edgewater HS) paced UCF with eight catches for a game-high 73 yards.
Pittsburgh finished with 467 total yards. Stephens-Howling had 19 carries for 135 yards. Tyler Palko completed 11-of-15 pass attempts for 172 yards with two scoring tosses.
The Golden Knights return to action on Saturday, Oct. 21, hosting Conference USA foe Rice at the Citrus Bowl. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m.
Call 407-UCF-1000 for more information or to purchase tickets. For the latest news and information on the Golden Knights, tickets or apparel, log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF athletics.