Oct. 20, 2006
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF football team returns to Conference USA play on Saturday when the Golden Knights face the Rice Owls at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at the Knights' home field.
The game is the first of six-consecutive league games that will close out the regular season for the Golden Knights (2-4, 1-1 C-USA). It also marks the first Saturday game for the team since a 24-17 setback to USF on Sept. 16. UCF had played three-consecutive mid-week games all televised on the ESPN family of networks.
Rice (2-5, 1-2 C-USA) is coming off a thrilling 34-33 victory over UAB at home last Saturday. The Owls' Jarrett Dillard hauled in a nine-yard touchdown pass from Chase Clement in the waning seconds to give Rice its first league win of the season.
This will be only the second meeting between the two schools as both squads are in just their second years, respectively, as members of C-USA. UCF owns a 1-0 lead in the all-time series after taking a dramatic 31-28 decision last year at Rice Stadium in the regular-season finale. The victory clinched the East Division title for the Golden Knights and secured their right to host the inaugural C-USA Championship game.
The contest will feature two of the league's best receiving threats. UCF senior Mike Walker, a second-team All-C-USA pick in 2005, trails only Rice's Jarrett Dillard in receptions this season. Dillard, a sophomore, leads the league with 53 catches and is averaging 97.6 yards receiving a game.
Walker has 41 catches on the year and is third in the league averaging 79.7 yards receiving a game. All three of Walker's touchdowns this season have come in UCF victories and the team is 7-2 overall when the Orlando native scores a touchdown in his career.
Dillard leads the country with 11 touchdown receptions and his streak of nine straight games with a touchdown is also tops in the nation. Walker has caught at least one pass in 22 straight games and has led the Golden Knights in receiving yards or receptions in every game this season.
For the latest news and information on the Golden Knights, tickets or apparel, log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official website for UCF athletics. Ticket information for all UCF athletic events is available by calling the UCF Ticket Office at (407) 823-1000, e-mailing tickets@mail.ucf.edu or by logging onto the website.