Nov. 13, 2011
="" alt="Knight Head" border="0" class="imported"> Read John Denton's Knights Insider | ="" alt="Twitter Logo" border="0" class="imported">Twitter | ="" alt="Facebook Logo" border="0" class="imported">Facebook
By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Thanks to running back a kickoff 69 yards for a touchdown Nov. 12 at Southern Miss, junior Latavius Murray was one of just six players in the country named as a College Football Performance Awards National Kick Returner of the Week. Serving as an upback on kickoffs, Murray's return was just his third kickoff return of his career.
With UCF trailing 19-9 in the fourth quarter, the Golden Eagles decided to kick it away from the Knights' regular returners, Rannell Hall and Josh Robinson. Murray hauled it in on the 29-yard line and took advantage of perfect blocking by UCF's special teams to return it for six points. The Knights eventually grabbed a 23-22 lead later in the quarter but fell a two-point conversion shy with no time left in regulation in a thrilling, yet heartbreaking, 30-29 loss.
Murray's kickoff return for a touchdown was UCF's first of the season, and the Knights are now one of just five teams nationally which have recorded a kickoff-return touchdown in each of the last five years.
The Knights, which sat above 100th in the nation in kickoff returns in the middle of the season, now rank fourth in the country at 26.74 yards per return. That is highlighted by Hall who sits ninth with 30.00 yards per return.
Also earning accolades by the CFPA, senior Nick Cattoi was named an honorable placekicker by going a perfect 3-for-3 in field goals and 2-for-2 in extra points. Cattoi's field goals came from 48, 38 and 41 yards.
The Knights (4-6, 2-4) but begin to look ahead to their final regular-season road game when it meets East Carolina (4-6, 3-3) Saturday at 7 p.m. on FOX Sports Networks.
Tickets for the Knights final home game against UTEP on Nov. 25 can be purchased online at UCFAthletics.com or by calling the UCF Athletics Ticket Office at (407) 823-1000.