Talking Temple - UCF Notes

UCF and Temple will square off for just the fourth time Saturday night in Orlando. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at Bright House Networks Stadium on ESPNU.

UCF enters the contest 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the American Athletic Conference, after an impromptu bye week. UCF's contest with Tulane scheduled for last Friday was postponed due to Hurricane Matthew. The Knights opened conference play with a 47-29 win over ECU. Temple is 3-3 overall and 1-1 in AAC play. The Owls hold wins over Stony Brook, Charlotte and SMU, with losses to Army, Penn State and Memphis.

The Knights and Temple both feature solid defensive units. Temple is No. 3 in the AAC in total defense, allowing 320 yards per game, while UCF is No. 4 at 350.6. 

Offensively, Temple and UCF also seem to be evenly matched. The Knights are averaging 35.2 points per game, while the Owls are at 33.0.

Both squads are very good in the red zone, ranking No. 7 in the nation in red-zone defense, while coming in at No. 22 in red-zone offense. UCF is No. 19 and No. 13 in those respective categories.

THE SERIES
Friday marks the fourth meeting between Temple and UCF on the gridiron. The Knights lead the all-time series 2-1. This is just the second meeting in Orlando.

The first-ever meeting was one of the most memorable in UCF history. It produced "The Catch" as J.J. Worton's incredible, one-handed diving touchdown grab allowed the Knights keep the magical Fiesta Bowl run on track. Worton's catch tied the game at 36-36. A defensive stop and a long pass from Blake Bortles to Rannell Hall allowed Shawn Moffitt to kick the game-winning FG as time expired, 39-36.

UCF won the only other meeting in Orlando by a tally of 34-14 in 2014. Last season in Philadelphia, Temple came away with a 30-16 victory over the Knights.

SCOUTING THE OWLS
Temple will lean on its senior quarterback Phillip Walker on the offensive side where the Owls are averaging 33.0 points per game. Walker sits sixth in the league in total offense per game, averaging 232.3 yards.

The running back duo of Ryquell Armstead and Jahad Thomas compliment Walker's passing game with the two combining for 13 rushing touchdowns this season.

Defensively, the Owls are ranked No. 3 in the AAC, allowing 320 yards per game. Defensive lineman Haason Reddick anchors the unit with a league-best 12.0 tackles for loss. Reddick has also forced a pair of fumbles, recovering one of the year.

LAST TIME OUT
For the first time in nearly six years, the UCF football team scored in all phases of the game. It showed on the scoreboard, as the total team effort led to a 47-29 victory over ECU.

Adrian Killins got the scoring started for the Knights with a 100-yard kickoff return to tie the game early in the second quarter. The defense was next, recording a safety to give the Knights a 9-7 lead. Finally, the offense got into the act when Dontravious Wilson scored the first of his two TDs late in the second period.

The Knights' defense made a string of big plays to start the second half. Back-to-back sacks and a tackle for-loss gave ECU minus-22 yards on their first possession of the third quarter. UCF took over at the Pirate 35-yard line after a short punt. Two plays later, freshman Jawon Hamilton went in from two yards out to put UCF up 23-7 just 2:30 into the second half.

ECU scored back-to-back touchdowns to make it 23-21, but Wilson's second touchdown of the game followed by a Brendon Hayes pick-six made it 37-21 Knights.

UCF added a field goal and the two teams traded TDs in the last 1:14 to account for the final tally, 47-29.