ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) - Tulsa scored 21 points in the third quarter Saturday night at Bright House Networks Stadium, ruining Senior Knight for UCF. The Golden Hurricane rode that 21-point outburst to a 35-20 victory over the Knights.
Tulsa rushed for 348 yards and tallied 474 yards of total offense. Meanwhile, the Knights' offense struggled for much of the evening. UCF tallied 321 total yards, but just 88 on the ground.
"(It) won't be long before there is a day around here when we will get over the hump and win those games," UCF head coach Scott Frost said. "We just made a few too many mistakes tonight and sputtered too much on offense, but (I'm) still really proud of our guys and the effort they gave."
UCF's fourth interception return for a touchdown this year put the Knights on top early. Senior D.J. Killings grabbed his third pick of the season and took it 28 yards to the house on Tulsa's first offensive possession. A two-point conversion pass from Nick Patti to Cal Bloom made it 8-0. Tulsa responded with a pair of rushing scores to lead 14-8.
Sophomore Matthew Wright's right foot tied the game at intermission. He booted field goals of 48 and 47 yards in the final 1:23 of the half to make it 14-14.
But Tulsa's 21-point third quarter left the Golden Hurricane up 35-14 going into the fourth. UCF finally put an offensive touchdown on the board with 12 minutes remaining in the game. Freshman Adrian Killins scored from three yards out to cap a 13-play, 70-yard march. The Knights got inside the Tulsa 5-yard line with less than three minutes left, but were turned away.
Third Quarter Recap
- The Knights ended Tulsa's second possession of the third quarter with sack, leading to a three-and-out. But Chris Johnson muffed the ensuing punt and the ball ricocheted right to Tulsa's Cristian Williams.
- Four plays and 31 yards later, Golden Hurricane QB Dan Evans hit Josh Atkinson for a 15-yard TD pass.
- On Tulsa's next possession, Evans found Keevan Lucas behind the defense for a 45-yard TD strike to make it 28-14.
- A 58-yard run from James Flanders set up Tulsa's third score of the quarter.
- D'Angelo Brewer scored from eight yards out with 35 seconds left in the third.
"You don't want to put anything on one play (the muffed punt). We didn't play well enough offensively to take the game over. We played well on defense at times. We gave up too many big plays - that was a turning point. Our defense was excited, just got off the field with a sack. Then, we gave them the ball right back on the 30 and they scored. Our offense sputtered and they scored again and that was the difference in the game."
- Head Coach Scott Frost
#SeniorKnight16
- The Knights honored 26 seniors prior to tonight's kickoff.
- Micah Anderson, Cal Bloom, Jeremy Boykins, Jerod Boykins, Demeitre Brim, Chester Brown, Errol Clarke, Kyle Coltrain, Shaquill Griffin, Justin Holman, Caleb Houston, Drico Johnson, Hayden Jones, D.J. Killings, Kyle MacMeekin, Gage Marsil, Justin McDonald, T.J. Mutcherson, Taylor Oldham, Nick Patti, Jason Rae, Jimmie Roberts, Mark Rucker, Maurice Russell, Blake Tiralosi and Dontravious Wilson all suited up for the final time at Bright House Networks Stadium.
"This group of seniors has been great. I'll always be glad that I got to coach these guys. These are the guys that have really spearheaded what we've done this year."
- Head Coach Scott Frost