Blake Bortles runs for a touchdown in the second quarter vs. Penn State.
Knights escape Penn State with 28-26 win on last-second kick
University Park, Pen. — There were times when the outcome didn’t look good but the UCF Knights never died in University Park.
After a timeout was taken with two seconds left in the game and UCF trailing Penn State 26-25, UCF kicker Shawn Moffitt made a 36-yard field goal to give the Knights the win.
The Knights drove over 50 yards on their final drive, which included two crucial third down conversions through the air when Blake Bortles found Rannell Hall and later J.J. Worton.
“We came up big when we needed to,” UCF head coach Andrew Kennedy said. “Once again, we protected Blake [Bortles] all game long and he made plays when our backs were against the wall.”
Bortles threw an interception on his first pass attempt of the game but would eventually settle down. He finished completing 23-for-33 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown in the game. Bortles also ran seven times for a team-high 53 yards and scored twice on the ground.
Both Bortles rushing touchdowns came on QB Choice plays, which have been the most successful running plays this season, according to Kennedy.
“It feels like we gain at least eight yards every time we run a QB Choice,” Kennedy said. “Bortles has good acceleration so when he keeps it he can get up field in a hurry. More often than not, the defense focuses in on our running back and Bortles has made them pay so far.”
Without Storm Johnson, who will be out the next 10 weeks with a broken ankle, the Knights struggled to run the ball. Cedric Thompson managed just 45 yards on 15 carries forcing the Knights to rely more on the passing game.
The passing game for Penn State is what hurt the Knights more than anything.
True freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg completed 23-of-28 passes in the game for 252 yards. He threw two touchdowns and was intercepted once. The Knights were able to sack him four times, three of which were credited to defensive end Deion Green.
“We wanted to put pressure on Hackenberg since he is a true freshman and one of the lowest rated players on their offense,” Kennedy said. “The four sacks were nice but overall, we didn’t pressure the quarterback enough and that’s why he had such a high completion percentage. The interception Brandon [Alexander] made was huge too since it came when they were driving, which it felt like they were the entire game.”
Penn State finished with 20 first downs to UCF’s 18 in the game. A key for the Knights pulling out the victory was a “bend but don’t break” defense that forced the Nittany Lions to settle for four field goals.
The tough road will continue next week for the Knights despite returning home. They will face who will undoubtedly be their toughest opponent of the year in No. 4 ranked South Carolina, who is 3-0 on the year so far.
“I’m glad we get a chance to play a team like South Carolina this early in the year,” Kennedy said. “I was proud of our guys on the road this week and they showed me a lot. The Gamecocks will be a different animal though. We’re going to need to play near perfect to beat them.”
Individual Stats
UCF
PASSING
B. Bortles 23-33-244, 1 TD, 1 int.
RUSHING
B. Bortles 7-53, 2 TD
C. Thompson 15-45
M. Reed 4-13
R. Hall 1-2
RECEIVING
J. Worton 5-75
C. Thompson 5-24
B. Perriman 4-60, 1 TD
J. Godfrey 4-24
R. Hall 2-33
J. Tukes 2-15
M. Reed 1-13
DEFENSE
Interceptions: B. Alexander
Sacks: D. Green (3), D. Anderson
Penn State
PASSING
C. Hackenberg 23-28-252, 2 TD, 1 int.
RUSHING
Z. Zwinak 25-124
B. Belton 2-5
C. Hackenberg 5-(-28)
RECEIVING
K. Carter 6-61, 1 TD
Z. Zwinak 6-21
A. Robinson 4-39
B. Mosbey Felder 3-61, 1 TD
A. Kenney 2-39
M. Lehman 2-31
DEFENSE
Interceptions: M. Hull
Sacks: none
Scoring Summary
Team Stats
Week 3 Players of the Week
Week 3 Scores Around the NCAA
Week 3 Top 25 scores
Michigan 41, Akron 0
LSU 35, Kent State 28
Kansas State 38, UMass 3
Stanford 38, Army 17
West Virginia 48, Georgia State 7
UL Monroe 35, Wake Forest 25
Ohio State 52, California 28
Washington 35, Illinois 24
Florida State 21, Nevada 7
Louisville 38, Kentucky 21
South Carolina 37, Vanderbilt 10
Boise State 45, Air Force 28
Oklahoma State 45, FCS Southeast 0
Nebraska 38, UCLA 24
Oregon 38, Tennessee 18
Alabama 35, Texas A&M 21
Texas 45, Ole Miss 24
Wisconsin 35, Arizona State 21
Oregon State 38, Utah 24
Week 3 American Conference scores
UCF 28, Penn State 26
Maryland 42, Connecticut 35
Temple 23, FCS East 20
Louisville 38, Kentucky 21
Eastern Michigan 31, Rutgers 28
USF 38, Florida Atlantic 31
Top 25
Ingram, Clayton ready to make visits
Orlando, Fla. — Jeff Ingram and Jason Clayton are ready to schedule their official visits with the UCF Knights.
Ingram, who is No. 5 on UCF’s Big Board, is a 6-foot-5, 216 pound outside linebacker from Bloomingdale, Fla.
The three-star recruit is projected to be a 71 overall. The Knights are at this moment his first choice with South Carolina, who UCF will play in its next game, a distance second.
Clayton is No. 11 on UCF’s Big Board. He’s a 5-foot-10, 193 pound halfback who projects to be a 65 overall.
Ingram and Clayton will both make their official visits Week 9 when the Knights host Connecticut. Head coach Andrew Kennedy intends to have as many players visit that week as possible, with it being the next home game where the Knights will be heavily favored to win.