ORLANDO – UCF Football (5-5) fell to Arizona State (6-4), 26-13, Saturday night at Acrisure Bounce House.
Originally scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff, the contest was pushed back two hours by the Big 12 Conference due to a nationwide FAA ground stop Friday evening impacting Arizona State’s travel to Orlando.
Despite the delayed start, the Knights came out strong defensively, holding the Sun Devils scoreless on their opening possession. The stop marked the ninth time in 10 games this season that UCF has prevented an opponent from scoring on its opening drive.
Picking up where they left off last week in Lawrence, Kansas, Alonza Barnett III found tight end Caden Piening for a 23-yard gain on the Knights’ opening offensive drive, which ultimately ended in a punt. Neither offense was able to find its rhythm early, as UCF and Arizona State traded punts on the game’s first four possessions, leaving the contest scoreless through the opening quarter.
The Sun Devils began the second quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run by Marquis Gillis to take a 7-0 lead.
UCF responded with a nine-play, 58-yard drive, highlighted by back-to-back 14-yard runs by running back Landen Chambers, but the Knights ultimately came out empty-handed as Will Stone’s 34-yard field goal attempt missed wide left.
Following a 50-yard field goal by Sun Devil’s kicker Carson Smith, UCF responded with its first touchdown of the contest to cut the deficit to 10-7. Barnett III connected with wide receiver Josh Derry for a 47-yard gain, setting up a 2-yard touchdown run by Chambers. The score marked Chambers’ team leading fifth touchdown of the season.
Arizona State answered with a 52-yard drive that culminated in another field goal before a Barnett III fumble inside UCF’s 20-yard line gave the Sun Devils favorable field position with just 36 seconds left in the first half. Arizona State capitalized with its third consecutive field goal to take a 16-7 lead into halftime.
After three consecutive punts to begin the second half, Arizona State capped off a seven-minute, 14-play, 81-yard drive with a Cardae Mack touchdown run.
Smith connected on his fourth field goal of the night for the Sun Devils, giving them a 26-7 fourth-quarter advantage.
UCF cut the lead to 26-13 with a last-effort 40-yard touchdown reception by Tyren Hornes from Barnett III.
The Knights quarterback finished with 257 yards and a touchdown, while Derry ended the night with 124 receiving yards, the third time this season the senior wide receiver recorded over 100 yards.
UP NEXT
The Knights remain in Orlando to face Iowa State at Acrisure Bounce House on Nov. 20 for Senior Knight. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. ET 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.