Sept. 11, 2009
Knights Football Central
UCF Game Notes
UCF at Southern Miss
Saturday, Sept. 12 ? Carlisle-Faulkner Field ? 7 p.m. Eastern
Television: None
Radio: UCF ISP Sports Radio Network ? Marc Daniels (play-by-play), Gary Parris (color), Jerry O'Neill (sideline reporter), Scott Adams (reporter)
WYGM 740AM - Orlando, WMMV 1350AM Cocoa, WDCF 1350AM - Dade City, WROD 1340AM - Daytona Beach, WMMB 1240AM - Melbourne, WLVJ 1040AM/WKAT 1360 AM - Miami, Fort Lauderdale, South Palm Beach, WPSL 1590AM - Treasure Coast/North Palm Beach, WZHR 1400AM - Zephyrhills)
Internet: Live audio, video and statistics at UCFAthletics.com
When UCF (1-0, 0-0 C-USA) has the ball
UCF looks to start strong in conference play this weekend, as the Knights travel to take on Southern Miss. Last week, sophomore running back Brynn Harvey paced the Knights' rushing attack as he ran 31 times for 111 yards and added two scores in a 28-24 win over Samford. Harvey became just the second UCF running back to rush for over 100 yards in a season opener in the FBS era. Redshirt senior quarterback Brett Hodges came off the bench to complete 10-of-17 passes for 129 yards and one touchdown. Head coach George O'Leary said that sophomore quarterback Rob Calabrese is still slated as the starter, with both Calabrese and Hodges to share time throughout the season. UCF also showed superb special teams play last Saturday, as the Knights recorded 289 total special teams yards. Freshman wide receiver Quincy McDuffie returned the opening kickoff of the second half 95 yards for a touchdown. The return was good enough to rank as the sixth-longest in school history. UCF joins Arkansas, Clemson and Texas as the only teams to have a kickoff returned for a touchdown in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
When Southern Miss (1-0, 0-0 C-USA) has the ball
Southern Miss is coming off a huge victory last Saturday, as the Golden Eagles beat Alcorn State 52-0. The offense racked up 631 total offensive yards, and was just three yards shy of breaking the school record of 633 set in last year's opener against Louisiana-Lafayette. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Austin Davis accounted for four touchdowns (3 passing, 1 rushing) as he completed 19-of-25 passes for 217 yards. The Golden Eagles' running game was led by senior running back Damion Fletcher, who ran 19 times for 126 yards and one touchdown. Fletcher also added two catches for 37 yards to reach 163 all-purpose yards. The running back became Southern Miss' all-time leader in all purpose yards with 5,112. Also, after rushing for over 1,000 yards in his first three seasons, Fletcher looks to become one of only eight players in the FBS to reach the 1,000 yard mark in each of their four years.
Did you know?
This will be the fifth time UCF has faced Southern Miss in football, with the Golden Eagles leading the series 3-1 ... Sept. 12 will mark the earliest UCF has opened conference play, with the last time coming on Sept. 20, 2002. UCF beat Marshall that day in its MAC season debut ... UCF's last victory against Southern Miss came on Oct. 28, 2007. Kevin Smith rushed for 175 yards and two touchdowns as the Knights beat the Golden Eagles 34-17 in Hattiesburg ... Heading into 2009, Southern Miss has 15-straight winning seasons, which is currently fourth in the nation among FBS schools.