UCF Knights Defeat Cincinnati Bearcats 28-26, Declare First Massive 12 Win in Program Historical past

UCF Knights (4-5, 1-5)

CINCINNATI, OHIO (UCF Knights) – The UCF soccer crew picked up its first Massive 12 Convention win Saturday night time, because the Knights got here away with a 28-26 win in opposition to Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium.

UCF earned its first win at Cincinnati since 2017 and gained its second consecutive in opposition to the Bearcats to take a 5-4 lead within the all-time collection.

After having second-half leads in a number of video games this season, UCF (4-5, 1-5 Massive 12) sealed the deal in opposition to Cincinnati (2-7, 0-6) to file the Knights’ first Massive 12 win in program historical past, with the Black and Gold of their inaugural season within the league.

The Knights did no matter it took to get the crew win with the offense dashing for 200 yards for the sixth time this season and the protection tallying a season-high 9 tackles for loss, 5 sacks and two turnovers.

Working again RJ Harvey tallied his fourth consecutive 100-yard dashing recreation, because the Orlando native recorded a career-high 164 yards on 20 carries with a career-best three touchdowns. Harvey is the primary UCF participant with 4 consecutive 100-yard video games since Latavius Murray in 2012. Moreover, his 164 dashing yards are probably the most by a Knights working again since Isaiah Bowser rushed for 172 in opposition to Boise State within the 2021 season opener.

Cincinnati struck first following a 39-yard area purpose from Carter Brown, however UCF answered just a few drives later with a six-play drive amassing 59 yards to attain the primary landing of the sport. The drive was aided by a expensive cross interference name in opposition to the Bearcats, drawn by Kobe Hudson, and John Rhys Plumlee capped the drive with an eight-yard dashing landing to make it 7-3.

Harvey pushed the Knights’ benefit to 14-3 when he scored the primary of three dashing touchdowns, taking it in from 13 yards out on a drive that he began with a 24-yard rush. UC countered on its subsequent drive to trim the margin to 14-10, as quarterback Emory Jones discovered Braden Smith for an 11-yard passing landing.

With the Bearcats trying to get on the scoreboard earlier than halftime, sophomore defensive again Nikai Martinez got here up massive for the Knights by intercepting a cross within the endzone and returning it 24 yards to assist the Knights personal a 14-10 lead after the primary half-hour of play.

UCF opened the third quarter with a 45-yard drive, however Colton Boomer’s 47-yard area purpose try missed vast left. After the groups traded three-and-outs, Cincinnati and UCF scored on the following 5 possessions.

Ryan Montgomery’s two-yard dashing landing gave Cincinnati its second lead of the day, 17-14, however the Knights countered with considered one of their greatest drives of the sport to regain the lead. UCF ran 10 performs for 85 yards en path to Harvey discovering the endzone for the second time, because the Black and Gold grabbed a 21-17 lead.

The Knights protection appeared to have pressured a cease early within the fourth quarter, however an unlawful formation penalty in opposition to the particular groups unit prolonged the drive and Cincinnati took benefit. Happily, UCF’s protection got here up massive as soon as once more as Jones was sacked by Knights freshman John Walker and redshirt sophomore Malachi Lawrence to drive a Cincinnati area purpose, which minimize the Knights result in one at 21-20.

UCF had one other nice response offensively with Jarrad Baker beginning the drive with a 10-yard rush and Harvey ending the drive with a one-yard rush to set a profession excessive together with his third dashing rating of the sport. Main by eight (28-20), UCF kicked off to UC figuring out the Bearcats wanted to attain a landing and convert the two-point conversion to knot the rating.

A 19-yard scramble by Jones and a 37-yard cross helped Cincinnati remedy the primary a part of the equation, however UCF’s protection didn’t enable the two-point try to be transformed and the Black and Gold held on to a 28-26 lead.

After recovering the onside kick, UCF was in place to place the sport away after a giant run from Plumlee however he slid one yard shy of the primary down marker. Cincinnati used its closing timeout earlier than one other run from Plumlee to select up the primary down with 1:15 on the clock and seal UCF’s first Massive 12 win.

Plumlee completed the sport 13 for 23 with 165 yards passing and 13 carries for 53 yards dashing with a landing. Baker led the receiving core with 4 catches for 93 yards, because the senior has now recorded a catch in 23 consecutive video games.

Defensively, UCF linebacker Walter Yates set a season excessive and matched his profession excessive with 13 tackles to steer all gamers within the recreation. Jason Johnson had eight tackles, whereas Tre’mon Morris-Brash set a career-high with 2.5 sacks and a couple of.5 tackles for loss.

UCF will return to motion subsequent weekend when the Knights host Oklahoma State of their annual House Sport. Kickoff time and the tv designation can be introduced following the conclusion of all Massive 12 video games on Saturday.