Sept. 17, 2009
Knights Football Central
UCF Game Notes
Buffalo at UCF sponsored by MetroPCS
Saturday, Sept. 19 ? Bright House Networks Stadium ? 7:30 p.m.
Television: Bright House Sports Network ? Drew Fellios (play-by-play), Mark Royals (color), Dave Baumann (sidelines)
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 (1-1, 0-1 C-USA) has the ball
As the Knights initially struggled offensively against Southern Miss, head coach George O'Leary will grant the start to redshirt senior quarterback Brett Hodges. Hodges completed 15-of-26 for a career-high 158 yards and two touchdowns against Southern Miss last week, and is 25-of-43 for 287 yards and three touchdowns on the season. After amassing 111 yards on 31 carries in the season opener against Samford, sophomore running back Brynn Harvey was slowed down in the Southern Miss contest. Currently, Harvey has rushed 45 times for 148 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Hodges will look to one of three targets through the air. Redshirt senior Rocky Ross currently has hauled in team highs of 10 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown. Also, wide receivers Kamar Aiken and Jamar Newsome have combined for 131 receiving yards and two scores.
UCF's offense will have to get things going early, and show consistency against a Buffalo defense that gave up only 119 yards in the second half to Pittsburgh last week. Buffalo is led defensively by senior defensive back Mike Newton (17 tackles), junior defensive back Davonte Shannon (15 tackles) and junior linebacker Justin Winters (13 tackles, one sack).
When Buffalo (1-1, 0-0 MAC) has the ball
The Bulls are coming off a 54-27 loss to Pittsburgh last Saturday. Buffalo's offense was led by sophomore quarterback Zach Maynard, who completed 24-of-35 passes for 400 yards and four touchdowns. Maynard's 400 yard passing game was the most ever in Buffalo's Division I-A era, and his four touchdowns tied a school record. Also, Maynard's numbers were good enough to be named MAC East Division Offensive Player of the Week last week. Through the first two games, Maynard is 36-of-54 for 559 yards and five touchdowns. Maynard's two favorite targets are wide receivers Naaman Roosevelt (11 catches, 248 yards, three touchdowns) and Brett Hamlin (15 catches, 165 yards). The Bulls' rushing attack is led by junior running back Brandon Thermilus. Thermilus has rushed 39 times for 128 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, UCF will look to slow the Bulls' offensive success in attempts to get off the field on third downs. Against Southern Miss, UCF gave up some big plays late and allowed their offense to stay off the field. UCF will look to its experienced defensive line and linebackers to maintain control of the line of scrimmage and force Buffalo into three-and-out situations. The Knights' defensive leaders through week two are linebackers Lawrence Young (16 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack), Cory Hogue (16 tackles, two tackles for loss), and defensive back Darin Baldwin (12 tackles, one tackle for loss, four pass breakups).
Did you know?
UCF is 5-1 all-time against Buffalo. The Knights won the first five and dropped the last meeting in 2004 ... Saturday's game honors Buffalo's 1958 team that earned a bowl bid to play in the Tangerine Bowl that same year. Buffalo refused to play because the now defunct Orlando High School Athletics Association denied Buffalo's two African-American players the opportunity to participate ... The Buffalo game will mark George O'Leary's 150th career game as a head coach ... Buffalo will be the first defending conference champion to face UCF in Bright House Networks Stadium.
Season tickets and single-game tickets for the Buffalo game are currently available. To order season tickets, or to learn more about attending games at Bright House Networks Stadium, call 407-UCF-1000.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to 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 UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.