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Homecoming High Note

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Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – No. 21/22 UCF came into the weekend leading the nation in scoring and proved why on Saturday night against ECU. The Knights racked up exactly 600 yards of total offense in a 63-21 rout of the Pirates. The Knights (5-0, 3-0) found the end zone on offense, defense and special teams for the first time this season and the first time since defeating ECU 47-29 last season in Greenville, N.C.

For the first time since the 1998 season, the Knights have recorded more than 500 yards of offense in three consecutive games. Against the Pirates, UCF tallied 365 yards through the air and 235 on the ground. Seven different players scored an offensive touchdown. The Knights finished with seven plays of 20 yards or more.
 
The defense wouldn't be outdone, setting the tone early in the first half by stopping ECU (1-6, 1-3) on its first four third-down conversion attempts. The Knights shut down the pass-heavy Pirates offense that came in averaging 307 yards per game to just 160 yards in the air, including 88 in the first half. Tre Neal put the defensive points on the board, wtih a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter. Mike Hughes added a 66-yard punt return down the sideline for a touchdown in the third.

MAGIC MILTON
• Quarterback McKenzie Milton continued his impressive season on Saturday, throwing for 324 yards on 21-of-27 passing with two touchdowns in the air.
• The sophomore strolled into the end zone in the second quarter for his first rushing touchdown of the season.
• After one 300-yard passing game in 2016, the Kapolei, Hawaii, native has posted three in five games this year.
• Milton now has four games with multiple touchdown passes this year, after having three all of last season.  

TANK FORMATION
• The Tank formation, featuring defensive linemen Jamiyus Pittman, Trysten Hill and Tony Guerad checked into the game with the Knights on the ECU 4-yard line in the first quarter.
• Normally a blocker in the formation, Pittman came out of the backfield as a receiver. Milton lofted a pass to the right side, where the 311-pounder was wide open.
• The Tank formation is now 4-for-4 this season when called on to put the ball in the end zone. Tonight was the first time one of the defensive players scored out of that formation. The previous three scores came on the ground from running backs.

"I'm just excited for him those D-linemen. I tell you what, I think you'd have a hard time finding anybody in the country that works as hard as them and hits a sled and hit each other as much as those guys do. They've done a great job in that package now, open up holes for our running backs. We've had that set up and watching him catch the ball, I don't think he could have dropped it. It just fell right into his bread basket and the whole sideline erupted, got pretty excited. It was fun to see."  - Head Coach Scott FrostFROST BYTES
PIRATE PUMMELING



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UP NEXT
The Knights hit the road for an important American Athletic Conference at Navy next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
 



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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