ORLANDO – The UCF football team wrapped up non-conference play with a 44-30 victory over Georgia State on Saturday night, flipping the script from a tough first half to second-half dominance. Duke Watson ran wild for a career-high 177 yards and two scores, while rushing for 12.6 yards per carry, the second-highest clip in program history. Quarterback Keyone Jenkins added a passing and two rushing touchdowns in the process.
The game was truly a tale of two halves as Georgia State outgained the Knights 323-153. The defense locked the Panthers down in the second half, surrendering just six points and 162 yards, paving the way for the Black and Gold’s offense to gain 237 yards and 24 second-half points.
UCF scored on its first three drives of the game, holding a 10-7 lead midway through the first quarter before going up 17-7 by the end of the opening frame. After coming up empty on its first two drives, Georgia State scored on five of its next six possessions helping take a 24-20 lead into halftime. The second-half saw UCF force three Georgia State turnovers, including two interceptions on back-to-back third quarter drives.
A shocking start to the evening saw Georgia State go four-and-out from its own side of the field, turning the ball over on downs on the first drive of the game. Jayden Jennings stuffed the fourth-and-one quarterback sneak to give UCF the ball at the Panthers’ 34-yard line.
The Knights opted to go for a fourth-down conversion of their own after failing to pick up a first down on the first three plays of the drive. A lob to the end zone drew pass interference, giving UCF an automatic first down. The following play saw Duke Watson scamper for his 10th career touchdown, a 14-yard rush to take the early lead.
Jahleel Culbreath blocked a punt to end the Panthers’ second drive, later setting up a field goal to extend UCF’s lead to 10-0. The Knights also blocked a punt last season, doing so against North Carolina A&T on Sept. 6, 2025.
Georgia State tallied a touchdown on the scoreboard with 9:15 left in the opening quarter, only to see UCF answer right back with a Jenkins 30-yard touchdown pass to Waden Charles to put the Knights up 17-7. The reception gave Charles back-to-back weeks with touchdown snags, the first two of his career.
Georgia State mounted a scoring surge in the second quarter, scoring on all three drives in the second stanza to take a 24-20 lead into the locker room. A six-yard touchdown pass followed by a 78-yard rushing touchdown put the Panthers up 21-17. UCF’s Stone knocked through his second field goal of the evening with 2:47 left in the first half, a 40-yard kick for a new career-high; it was also the Knights’ only points of the second quarter. Georgia State answered with a 22-yard field goal as time expired.
After opening his career with an electric 64-yard run in Week 1, Watson broke through the line for a 63-yard sprint to the house on the first play of the second half, putting UCF back in front 27-24. The rush saw Watson eclipse 1,000 career ground yards, but his evening was far from finished. Georgia State knocked through another field goal to tie things at 27 with 11:24 to play in the third.
The pendulum of momentum swung drastically with just over six minutes to play in the third quarter. Jenkins threw an interception over the middle of the field which was returned to the 46-yard line. As Georgia State was looking to take hold of the game, UCF seized control back on the very next play as Tackett Curtis collected his first career interception. He went on to set a career-high in tackles for the second consecutive game, earning a team-high 10 tackles.
Following the interception, UCF pieced together a nine-play, 44-yard drive that finished with a Jenkins four-yard rush.
The Knights defense again caused turmoil for Georgia State, snatching a second interception in as many drives, this time by Demari Henderson off a tipped ball by Lewis Carter. The Knights once again turned the opportunity to points, cashing in with Stone’s third field goal of the game, this time from 24 yards to make it 37-27 with 8:42 to play.
A quick three-and-out by both sides sent the ball back to Georgia State with 4:44 to go in the ballgame. A 12-play, 49-yard drive resulted in a field goal, but gave the Knights the ball back with 1:52 to play after a failed onside kick and penalty. Taking over at the 40 yard-line, UCF needed just four plays to add to the scoreboard, highlighted by a Landen Chambers 35-yard run and finished off with a Jenkins three-yard scramble for the score.
Henderson ended the game with a pick to seal the deal, his second two-interception game as a Knight, the other coming on Nov. 11, 2023 in the Space Game against then-No. 15 Oklahoma State.
When all was said and done, Watson’s 177 yards on 14 carries averaged out to 12.6 yards per carry, the second-highest clip in program history, behind only Latavius Murray’s 13.27 yards per rush, chalking up 146 yards on 11 carries on Nov. 20, 2010. Watson also joined UCF running back royalty by becoming the first Knight to rush for 171 yards or more since RJ Harvey did so Nov. 2, 2024. The 177 yards on the ground on Saturday night give Watson his fourth 100+ yard rushing performance and earned him the 27th-most rushing yards in a single game in program history, which doubled as the 13th most by a Knight in Acrisure Bounce House history.
UP NEXT
The Knights open Big 12 Conference play Saturday, Sept. 26 as they welcome TCU to the Bounce House for the first time. UCF opens Big 12 play in Orlando for the first time as the Black and Gold embark on their fourth venture through a power conference slate.
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2026 campaign are on sale and can be purchased here! Be sure to be a part of all the action as the Knights play their 20th season in Acrisure Bounce House.
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.