Oct. 4, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Michael Greco came off the bench to throw two touchdown passes and Ronnie Weaver rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown as the University of Central Florida broke a three-game losing streak with a 31-17 win over SMU.
Greco took over for starter Rob Calabrese at the start of the second half and engineered three scoring drives to break a 10-10 halftime tie. He hit Brian Watters with a 56-yard scoring pass in the third quarter and then sealed the game with a 15-yard strike to Khymest Williams with 1:34 left in the fourth.
Weaver had the first 100-yard rushing game for UCF (2-4, 1-1 Conference USA) this season. He also had the Knights' longest run this season, a 48-yard burst up the middle that set up Calabrese's 2-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
SMU quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was 29 of 45 for 351 yards a touchdown, but was intercepted three times as the Mustangs (1-5, 0-3) lost their fourth straight.
SMU receiver Aldrick Robinson had 10 catches for a career-high 210 yards, including a 94-yard scoring pass from Mitchell that drew the Mustangs within 24-17 with 13 minutes left in the game.
The Mustangs flubbed an onside kick attempt on the ensuing kickoff and UCF put the game away when Greco found Williams in the end zone with 1:34 remaining in the game.
The teams traded field goals and long scoring drives in a first half that ended 10-10.
SMU's Andrew McKinney bulled in from 1 yard out to finish off a 77-yard drive and Thomas Morestead booted a 33-yard field goal to give the Mustangs a 10-3 first-quarter lead.
UCF's Daren Daly started the scoring with a 36-yard field goal on the Knights' first possession.
Calabrese tied the game with a 2-yard option run in the middle of the second quarter.