Sept. 15, 2007
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ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Facing No. 6 Texas in the inaugural game at Bright House Networks Stadium on Saturday, UCF came up just short, falling 35-32 to the Longhorns. The game served as the first contest on the UCF campus and was played in front of 45,266 fans.
The Knights (1-0) led 24-23 after an early fourth quarter touchdown run by Kyle Israel, but Texas responded with 13 points to pull away. Israel found Kamar Aiken for a 7-yard scoring strike with 35 seconds remaining in the game and the Knights were unable to recover the ensuing onside kick.
Kevin Smith paced the Knights with 149 yards on the ground. He scored twice, including the first touchdown in the new stadium on a 2-yard scamper in the first quarter that put the hosts up, 7-3.
The Longhorns (3-0) led 20-10 at halftime, but the Knights rallied in the third quarter. Smith's touchdown run at the 10:30 mark cut the Texas lead to six.
Texas led 10-7 after the first quarter, following a field goal from Ryan Bailey and a Nate Jones 6-yard reception from Colt McCoy. UCF's Michael Torres tied the game with a 47-yard field goal early in the second quarter. Texas closed the second quarter with 10 unanswered points. With 3:26 to play in the first half, Brandon Foster returned an Israel interception 33 yards for the score. Bailey concluded the half with a 19-yard field goal. The Knights spent their previous 28 years playing 30 minutes away from campus at the Florida Citrus Bowl.
The Longhorns totaled 488 yards of offense.
Aiken led UCF with four catches for 49 yards. Rocky Ross added two catches and for 31 yards.
McCoy completed 32-of-47 pass attempts for 259 yards. Jamaal Charles rushed for 153 yards on 22 carries. He scored on a 46-yard run with 3:37 to play.
Texas served as the highest-ranked team to play the Knights in Orlando. Lighting delayed the game for 15 minutes in the opening quarter. The Knights return to the field next Saturday at home, hosting Memphis for a Conference USA contest.
For the latest news and information on the Knights, tickets or apparel, log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. Also check out www.ucfphotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.