Oct. 4, 2008
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Freshman Ronnie Weaver (Wabasso, Fla.) rushed for a career-high 123 yards and junior Michael Greco (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) put the game away with a late touchdown pass as UCF (2-3, 1-1 C-USA) snapped a three-game losing skid with a 31-17 victory over visiting SMU (1-5, 0-3 C-USA) Saturday at Bright House Networks Stadium.
The UCF defense held SMU to just 25 yards on 21 carries while also tallying four sacks and three interceptions. Senior Joe Burnett's (Eustis, Fla.) second-quarter interception extended UCF's streak of consecutive games with a pick to 13. It also helped Burnett set a new school record with 14 career interceptions.
The Knights took a 17-10 lead, their first since early in the first quarter, on a 56-yard touchdown pass from Greco to Brian Watters (Rome, Ga.) on third-and-20 with 8:53 remaining in the third quarter.
On the ensuing SMU possession, Bo Levi Mitchell was intercepted by sophomore Derrick Hallman (Fort Pierce, Fla.), setting UCF up on the Mustangs' 17-yard line.
Weaver took advantage, capping a five-play drive which included a fourth-down conversion with a seven-yard score for a 24-10 lead with 5:32 on the third-quarter clock. SMU cut into that deficit when Mitchell found Aldrick Robinson wide open for a 94-yard touchdown with 13:00 left in the fourth quarter.
Greco connected with sophomore Khymest Williams (Lutcher, La.) on a 15-yard strike in the back of the end zone with 1:34 remaining in the fourth quarter for the final margin.
After not taking a snap in the first half, Greco completed four of eight attempts in the second half for 94 yards and two touchdowns.
On the final play of the first half, an SMU fumble in UCF territory was picked up by the Knights and Burnett took a lateral and ran 60 yards before being tripped up at the SMU 15 as time expired.
Set up by a 48-yard scamper by Weaver to the SMU five-yard line, UCF tied the game at 10 with 8:05 left in the second quarter on a two-yard rushing touchdown by starting quarterback Rob Calabrese (Islip Terrace, N.Y.).
Weaver finished the contest with 123 yards rushing on 25 carries, setting new career-highs in both statistics. As a team, UCF carried 38 times for 154 yards.
After forcing an SMU punt on the game's opening possession, the Knights' ended a seven-play, 29-yard drive with a 36-yard Daren Daly (Coral Springs, Fla.) field goal and a 3-0 lead.
Andrew McKinney's one-yard touchdown run, capped a 14-play, 77-yard, 7:30 drive for a 7-3 Mustangs' lead in the first quarter. Mitchell completed his last seven passes of the drive for 59 yards.
UCF returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 11, playing at Miami (Fla.) at 3:45 p.m. The game will air live on ESPNU. The Knights' next home game will be Sunday, Nov. 2, when they host East Carolina at 8 p.m. at Bright House Networks Stadium.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to www.UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit www.UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.