No. 11/11 UCF vs. Navy |
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – Homecoming is finally here. The No. 11/11 UCF football team will hit the field at Spectrum Stadium on Saturday to face Navy. The Knights and the Midshipmen will kick off at noon on ESPN2 and FM 96.9/AM 740 The Game.
Here are five things to Knights heading into Week 11:
COMING BACK HOME
After a week of concerts, comics and the time-honored tradition of Spirit Splash, UCF caps Homecoming Week with a showdown against Navy. The Knights will wear helmets adorned with throwback logos that the team wore from 1985-94. Prior to kickoff, three MH-60R Helicopters of the HSM-40 Airwolves from Naval Station Mayport out of Jacksonville will do a flyover.
IOA PLAZA
UCF has another stellar weekend lined up for Knights fans of all ages at IOA Plaza. The Jonnie Morgan Band will open the Tailgate Concert Series presented by Pacifico, before headliner Morgan Wallen takes the stage with a show that features songs from his debut album IF I KNOW ME, including “Up Down” and “The Way I Talk”. IOA Plaza will also have a free petting zoo and miniature golf for all fans.
MILTON MAGIC
Quarterback McKenzie Milton’s Heisman campaign is still alive and thriving 11 weeks into the season. The junior was named a Davey O’Brien Award Semifinalist on Wednesday. Milton already earned a spot on the Maxwell Award Semifinalist list. The Kapolei, Hawaii, native is having another standout season with 301.3 yards passing per game and 19 touchdowns through the air, along with seven more scores on the ground.
MEETING THE MIDSHIPMEN
Saturday marks just the second time that the Knights will take on the Midshipmen. In their first meeting last year, Navy gave UCF one of its toughest battles during the National Championship campaign. Aided by a defensive effort that held the nation’s top rushing attack 150 yards short of its regular output, as well as a punishing hit by Brandon Moore to jar force a fumble in the closing minutes, the Knights rushed for 247 yards in a 31-21 win on the road.
DEFENDING THE TRIPLE-OPTION
One reason that Navy gave the UCF such a challenge last year was the Midshipmen’s vaunted triple-option attack. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo, in his 12th season at the helm, has his offense ranked third in the nation with 286.9 yards rushing per game. In comparison, the Knights rank 93rd in the country and are giving up 188 rushing yards per game. UCF’s defense will have to step it up against an almost exclusive rushing team to keep the nation’s longest active winning streak alive.
Hear from the Knights when they spoke at the weekly press conference on Monday.