Cure Bowl Postgame NotesCure Bowl Postgame Notes

Cure Bowl Postgame Notes

UCF 13 (6-7, 4-4 AAC) vs. Arkansas State 31 (8-5, 8-1 Sun Belt)
Dec. 17, 2016 | Camping World Stadium | Attendance: 27,213
Weather: Partly Cloudy | Temp: 81 degrees | Wind: 7 mph from SSE
 
UCF Captains

  • UCF's captains for the game were SR QB Justin Holman, SR DB T.J. Mutcherson, r-JR WR Kyle Coltrain.

The Toss

  • Arkansas State won the toss and elected to defer. UCF chose to receive. Arkansas State elected to defend the south end zone.

Team Notes

  • This marked the eighth bowl in UCF's history and its seventh in the last 10 years.
  • The Knights are now 3-5 in bowl games and have lost in their last two appearances.
  • It was just the second ever meeting between UCF and Arkansas State, as the two teams have now each won once.
    • The last matchup was a 31-20 UCF victory on Oct. 5, 1991 when both programs were NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS).

Offensive Notes

  • McKenzie Milton set a new UCF record for completions in a season by a freshman when he completed his sixth pass of the game.
    • He finished with 22 completions to give him 194 for the season, topping Ryan Schneider's record of 177 (2000).
  • Taylor Oldham's 11-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter was the first of his career.
  • Milton went 22-of-39 passing in the game, with his 22 completions tying Blake Bortles (2012) for the second most by a Knight in a bowl game.
    • The freshman completed passes to 11 different receivers in the game.

Defensive Notes

  • Shaquem Griffin and Nate Evans combined for a sack in the second quarter, marking the first time Evans has been involved in a sack this season as a true freshman.
    • Griffin's 11 sacks during the regular season were ninth most in the nation. With 11.5 on the season, it's the sixth most in a single season in UCF history.
  • Demeitre Brim forced his second fumble of the season in the second quarter.
    • Mark Rucker recovered the fumble, the first of his career.
  • Brim finished with a game high and career high 14 tackles and two tackles-for-loss.
  • Shaquill Griffin had three pass break-ups in the game, finishing with 15 on the season, the second most in a single season in UCF history.
    • His 36 career break-ups are also tied for the second most in UCF history, trailing only Asante Samuel's 38 (1999-02).

Special Team Notes

  • Matthew Wright connected on a 45-yard field goal to cut the Knights' deficit to seven points, at 17-10. It tied for the second longest field goal in a bowl game in UCF history.
    • Wright added a 34-yard field goal in the third quarter for his 17th of 2016 and the 30th of his career.