Nov. 17, 2007
2007 UCF Football Game Notes
Game 11: SMU (Nov. 17)
UCF 49, SMU 20
UCF defeated SMU, 49-20, in the first meeting between the two schools to extend its winning streak to five games. The five-game winning streak matches the longest under head coach George O'Leary (2005) during his UCF tenure.
The Knights also reached eight wins for the second time under O'Leary (8-5; 2005).
With four rushing touchdowns in the game, the Knights now have 36 rushing scores on the season, which is the second most in C-USA history. Louisville holds the record of 47 (2004).
With three interceptions in the game, the Knights now have 15 interceptions during their five-game winning streak. The Knights are plus-12 (17 to 5) in turnover margin during their current winning streak.
Kevin Smith NOTABLES
Junior RB Kevin Smith played in just the first half of the Knights' victory, rushing for 177 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries.
Smith's 22-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter was his 23rd rushing score of the season and 39th of his career, breaking the C-USA single-season rushing touchdown record previously held by Memphis running back DeAngelo Williams (22) and the UCF career rushing touchdown record previously held by Willie English (38).
Smith's first quarter touchdown was his 24th total of the season, which also broke Williams' previous C-USA mark of 23.
Smith has 25 total touchdowns on the season, which ties him for 11th on the NCAA FBS single-season list. His multiple-touchdown game was his ninth of the season.
With his 20 rushing attempts, Smith set the C-USA single-season record for carries in a season with 330. Joffrey Reynolds held the previous mark of 316 (2002).
With his 80-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, Smith went over the 4,000-yard career rushing mark in his career becoming just the second back in the state of Florida to achieve that feat (Errict Rhett of Florida; 4,163). Smith finished the game with 4,057 yards.
Smith's 80-yard scoring jaunt was his third rushing TD of 80 yards or longer this season, which is the most in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision.
Smith posted his 10th 100-yard rushing game of the season, which set a single-season school record and tied Willis McGahee's (Miami, Fla.; 2002) state of Florida single-season record. His 10 100-yard rushing games this season leads the FBS.
Smith's two touchdowns tied DeMarco McClesky (Cincinnati) for second on the C-USA career charts for touchdowns with 41.
Smith now has 1,945 rushing yards on 330 attempts this season. His rushing total is the third-highest in C-USA single-season history.
During the Knights' five-game winning streak, Smith has rushed for 1,031 yards and scored 14 touchdowns (13 rush, 1 rec.).
UCF PLAYER NOTES
Sophomore Phillip Smith's seven-yard touchdown run in the first quarter was his third of the season. Smith is the only Texas native on the team as he is a native of Mansfield, which is a neighboring city of Dallas. Smith added a 10-yard score to give him his first multiple-touchdown game of his career. Smith had 17 carries for 90 yards.
Junior cornerback Joe Burnett moved into second place on the UCF career charts with a pair of interceptions in the victory over the Mustangs. The picks gave Burnett a team-high five on the season and 11 for his career. He added his second pick of the game in the fourth quarter.
Freshman Khymest Williams opened the game with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. It was the second time this season that the Knights returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown (Curtis Francis, 93 yards vs. East Carolina).
For Williams, the touchdown was the first of his career and tied for the fourth-longest kick return in school history. He also added his first-career reception in the third quarter.
Junior cornerback Johnell Neal returned a third-quarter interception 72 yards for a touchdown. It was Neal's first career touchdown and the second interception return for a touchdown this season by the Knights (Darin Baldwin vs. Marshall). Neal's 137 return yards on his three picks this year are the second most in a season by a Knight.
With their interceptions in the contest, Burnett and Neal have recorded picks in back-to-back games.
Freshmen Darin Baldwin and Darius Nall combined on a third quarter sack, which was the first of their respective UCF careers.
True freshman Sidney Haynes caught the first pass of his career, a 38-yard reception in the fourth quarter from Michael Greco.