ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF football team has wreaked havoc on its first four opponents of the 2017 season. From a relentless offensive attack to a suffocating defense, the No. 21 Knights (4-0, 2-0) have been impressive.
The offense leads the nation in scoring at 47.5 points per game, while the defense has given up an average of just 91 rushing yards per game, good enough for eighth in the country.
Each week it seems different Knights have stepped up to lead UCF to victory with award-worthy performances, career firsts, or breakout outings. This Saturday against ECU (1-5, 1-2), the Black and Gold will look for someone to step up again.
Sophomore quarterback McKenzie Milton has been lights out all season, recently being added to the Maxwell Award and Manning Award watch lists, but last weekend at Cincinnati he was particularly impressive.
Milton threw for a career-high 374 yards with a career best five touchdowns in just three quarters of a rain-shortened victory over the Bearcats.
His top target in the win? Junior wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith. The Knights' top pass catcher each of the last three seasons, Smith is still reaching new levels in 2017. At Cincinnati he hauled in a career best three touchdown receptions and added his first ever rushing score.
The Knights' defense, heralded coming into the 2017 season, has yet to disappoint. The experienced front seven has combined for nine sacks and held both Maryland and Memphis to under 100 yards rushing.
A number of returning Knights have taken advantage of increased playing time this fall, recording career highs and career firsts on a weekly basis.
Running backs Adrian Killins Jr. and Taj McGowan have powered the ground game in the absence of starter Jawon Hamilton. Killins totaled a career high 179 yards and broke a UCF record with a 96-yard touchdown in the win over Memphis, while McGowan has found the end zone in each of the first four weeks, including his first multi-score game in the victory at Maryland.
Last weekend, redshirt senior Michael Colubiale got in on the action, catching his first career touchdown on a 21-yard toss from Milton in the rout of Cincinnati.
Veterans with bigger roles on the defense have also had their moments to shine. Safeties Tre Neal and Kyle Gibson each tallied their first career interception in the first two games of the season. Gibson shares the team lead in picks with defensive lineman – yes that's right – defensive lineman Seyvon Lowry, who both have two interceptions in 2017.
It hasn't just been the old guard stepping up. A host of newcomers have made an immediate impact for the Knights.
In the opener the freshman wide receivers – Gabriel Davis, Otis Anderson, Emmanuel Logan-Greene and Marlon Williams – combined for 11 catches and 133 yards through the air to bolster the UCF attack in a 61-17 win over FIU.
A late addition to fall camp, Mike Hughes has put receivers on an island since transferring to UCF. The junior leads the secondary with 18 tackles, two interceptions and a pick-six. He also leads the nation with 2.0 passes defended per game.
The contributions from newcomers have come from far and wide – including but not limited to a forced fumble by Antwan Collier against FIU and Gabriel Luyanda's trio of tackles-for-loss in back-to-back wins over Maryland and Memphis.
Through the first four weeks of the 2017 season, it has become clear that the Knights have a near limitless supply of weapons on both sides of the ball.
Facing ECU Saturday night on Homecoming, the Knights will look to improve to 5-0 for the first time in their Division I history.
Who will step up next?
RISE AND CONQUER
The second season of UCF Football under head coach Scott Frost is now underway. Fans can explore all of the new ticket options at Spectrum Stadium by visiting WeRiseandConquer.com or calling (407) 823-1000.
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