Aug. 30, 2012
Recap | Final Stats | Photo Gallery
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By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
TEAM NOTES
-UCF has now won seven-straight season-openers, and moved to 22-12 overall in those games.
-It was the first win in four tries for the Knights on the Zips' home field. UCF spoiled the head coaching debut for Akron's Terry Bowden.
-UCF recorded a touchdown on its first drive of the game, marking the third-straight season it produced seven points on its first drive of the year.
-UCF forced four turnovers as Akron lost three fumbles and threw one interception.
-The Knights scored 28 points in the second quarter at Akron. The last time they had at least 28 points in a quarter was at Tulane Nov. 20, 2010 (31 points in the first quarter).
-UCF scored its most points against a non-conference FBS opponent since a 57-17 win over Akron Nov. 3, 2001 (a year before UCF joined the MAC). It also was the most points scored on the road vs. a non-conference FBS school since Sept. 5, 1998, at Louisiana Tech (the Knights were not part of a conference that year either).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
-Senior captains for Thursday were safety Kemal Ishmael and center Jordan Rae. Ishmael was making his team-high 36th-straight start, while Rae has now started in the last 18 contests.
-Defensive coordinator Jim Fleming was reunited with his son, Will, who is a fullback for the Zips.
-Sophomore quarterback Blake Bortles, who came off the bench in 10 games in 2011, made his first-collegiate start. Highlighted by the longest pass completion of his career - a 56-yard TD strike to Rannell Hall in the third quarter - Bortles finished the night 13-for-16 with 168 yards and three touchdowns.
-Hall, meanwhile, had a career night as well with a team-high four receptions for 94 yards and his first two receiving touchdowns as a Knight.
-Backup QB Tyler Gabbert, a sophomore transfer from Missouri, appeared in his first game when he took over in the third quarter. On his first pass, he found Rob Calabrese on a 12-yard TD reception. For the former quarterback Calabrese, it was his first-career reception.
-Sophomore cornerback Jordan Ozerities also made his first-career start Thursday. He forced and recovered a fumble in the third quarter.
-Senior RB Latavius Murray rushed for 68 yards on six carries on the opening drive. He finished with 14 carries, 108 yards and a touchdown. It was the second-straight game dating back to 2011 that he had at least 100 yards on the ground. It also was his fourth-career 100-yard rushing game.
-Junior TE Chris Martin, who converted from the offensive line in the preseason, caught his first pass on the first drive of the game, which was a 5-yard touchdown toss from Bortles.
-Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Thomas Niles entered on the second defensive drive of the game. It was his collegiate debut, and on that drive he notched a 6-yard sack.
-Junior Jeff Godfrey, who was UCF's quarterback the last two years, caught his first pass as wide receiver in the first quarter, which was an 8-yard first-down reception on third down.
-Sophomore running back Storm Johnson, who sat out last year due to transferring from Miami, notched his first rushing touchdown as a Knight in the second quarter. He capped off the evening with another score and 34 yards on the ground.
-Senior Jamie Boyle served as UCF's punter for the first time in his career, and booted a 53-yard punt at the end of the first half. Akron turned it over on the next play and UCF found the endzone to take a 35-0 lead at the half.