Sept. 29, 2007
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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Junior running back Kevin Smith rushed for a career-high 223 yards and three touchdowns as Knights' posted a 37-19 win over Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday night at Bright House Networks Stadium.
Smith, who regained the nation's leading rusher title averaging 178 yards a game, has six touchdowns in two games and 10 for the season.
He also took sole possession for third most career rushing touchdowns (26), passing former UCF quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Saturday was his third game with 200 or more rushing yards in his career and second of the season.
Smith's first score was a 56-yard scamper on the Knights' second drive of the game. He added a pair of one-yard goal line scores in the second quarter and now has 713 yards this season. UCF's Augustus Ashley blocked a punt and returned it 19 yards to put the Knights up 30-6 with nine seconds remaining in the first half.
The Knights (3-1) kept the Ragin' Cajuns (0-5) out of the end zone in the first half. Louisiana had just two red zone drives in the first half and managed three field goal attempts. Kicker Drew Edmiston made kicks of 26 and 22 yards, but missed one from 41.
Louisiana-Lafayette's Derrick Smith opened the third with a 86-yard kickoff return down to the UCF 3-yard line. Marlin Miller gave the Ragin Cajuns its first touchdown with a three-yard run. Derrick Smith also nabbed a 28-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.
UCF quarterback Kyle Israel, who went 11-for-20 passing for 153 yards, hit tight end Corey Rabazinski for a one-yard touchdown pass. Junior Rocky Ross led all receivers with six catches for 83 yards.
Saturday's win was the third-straight home game in the Knights brand new, $55 million stadium and marks the first 3-1 start for the team since the 1998 season.