UCF Football Comes Up Short Against Kansas, 27-20UCF Football Comes Up Short Against Kansas, 27-20

UCF Football Comes Up Short Against Kansas, 27-20

by Aiden Kocol
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ORLANDO - Despite outgaining, outrushing, and outpassing the Kansas Jayhawks (4-2, 2-1 Big 12) in the first half, the UCF Knights (3-2, 0-2) were ultimately overtaken by a second-half surge, falling 27–20 in their first Big 12 home matchup Saturday night at Acrisure Bounce House.

Although the Knights outgained the Jayhawks 375 to 356 yards and racked up nearly 200 rushing yards, six costly penalties, including three in the final quarter, proved to be their Achilles’ heel as Kansas capitalized on every opportunity, going a perfect 4-for-4 in the red zone.

"This team is good enough to win some of these games, and we just have to be much better in all phases, and more consistent"

Head Coach Scott Frost

A familiar UCF defense took the field first, with Cole Kozlowski tallying his first sack of the fall on the game's opening drive. Once again, the Knights kept their foe scoreless in the first quarter of play despite Kansas entering the game as one of the top first-quarter offenses in FBS, tallying 63 points across this season’s first quarters. The Knights are one of only three teams to boast this stat, making them one of the top quarter-one defenses in the FBS.

UCF struck first midway through the opening quarter, as Myles Montgomery found a seam up the middle and sprinted into the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown. Montgomery kept the momentum rolling early in the second quarter, finding the end zone again at the top of the second quarter to bring his touchdown tally to two on the night and give the Black and Gold an early 14-0 lead. 

Montgomery, fresh off a career-high 119 rushing yards in last week’s battle against Kansas State, picked up right where he left off, powering his way to 110 yards on the ground and blowing by the 100-yard mark once again. The performance sealed a career milestone for the senior: back-to-back 100+ yard rushing games for the first time in his collegiate tenure.

The Jayhawks looked to gain ground on the Knights midway through the second, capping a nine-play, 75-yard drive to get on the board. Coming out of the two-minute timeout, Kansas kept the momentum alive, punching it in from four yards out to pull within striking distance at 17-14. Just before the break, Noe Ruelas delivered a timely 38-yard field goal, giving the Knights a six-point cushion heading into halftime.

Struggling to find rhythm coming out of the break, the Knights allowed back-to-back scoring drives from the Jayhawks, both resulting in field goals that tied the game at 20 with just four minutes remaining in the third quarter. Moments later, a costly fumble by Tayven Jackson on UCF’s own seven-yard line handed Kansas the opportunity they needed to seize control late in the third, 27-20.

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Stepping in at quarterback late in the third quarter, Cam Fancher delivered the spark the Knights needed, opening the final period with back-to-back first downs to ignite the offense. However, consecutive penalties stalled the drive, forcing UCF to give up possession once again. Fancher would not be deterred long, though, launching a deep 18-yard strike down the left side to Waden Charles for a crucial first down late in the fourth.

“The motto is when you get the ball, you do something with it. That’s my game, when I get the ball, I'm going to get the yards. And when other receivers get their chance, they will as well."

Duane Thomas Jr. on making efficient plays

The drive pushed the Knights all the way to the one-yard line, setting the stage for a potential game-tying score. But in a heartbreaking finish, the Black and Gold came up just short, allowing Kansas to escape with a 27-20 victory.

UP NEXT
The Knights will face the Cincinnati Bearcats on the road next Saturday, Oct. 11, kicking off at noon on FS1.

ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program, representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.