UCF Knights keep the ball rolling

By Isaac Babcock
| 9:29 a.m. October 12, 2011

Photo by: UCF athletics - Running back Brynn Harvey ran for nearly 200 yards on a rain-soaked field against Marshall Oct. 8, carrying the ball 30 times.

Winter Park - Maitland Observer
Sports

A monsoon that drenched Bright House Networks Stadium didn't stop the Knights from beating the Marshall Thundering Herd 16-6 on Oct. 8.

Even with a muddy field and a constant downpour, the Knights (3-2) still managed 387 total yards as they pounded the ball on the ground for 240 yards and threw for 147 thanks to Jeff Godfrey at quarterback.

Despite the big yards for the Knights, both teams had trouble moving the ball at different points in the game, with the Herd punting eight times versus the Knights' seven. A wet ball didn't help either team, with fumbles again haunting the Knights, who dropped two and lost two. The Herd (2-4) fumbled once, which the Knights recovered.

One player who was bamboozled by the rain was Ronnie Weaver, who Godfrey continually handed the ball but who lost yardage on five of his nine carries. That includes a frustrating drive during the fourth quarter when he carried the ball four times and lost five yards in the process. Adding to the frustration, Godfrey's would-be touchdown pass to end the drive was picked off at the 4-yard-line by Marshall's Omar Brown.

Hitting the road

The Knights hit the road for the third time in four games Saturday, traveling all the way to Dallas to face SMU.

The Mustangs (4-1, 2-0) are tied with Houston with the best conference record in Conference USA. They’re also coming to the game on a four-game winning streak, extended in dramatic fashion against TCU when an overtime touchdown gave them a 40-33 win Oct. 1.

But that wild OT win came after the Mustangs gave up 23 points in the fourth quarter to let the Horned Frogs back into the game. If the Knights can exploit late-game defensive weakness, they could see some big points.

The UCF pass defense will have its work cut out for it against the arm of SMU’s J.J. McDermott, who threw for 349 yards and four touchdowns against TCU. In five games the Mustangs have averaged more than 326 yards per game in the air.

McDermott has proven himself capable of going long, with touchdown passes that started in his own red zone. And he rarely makes mistakes, even under pressure, being sacked six times against Texas A&M and still throwing for 268 yards without an interception.

That game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, televised on Fox Sports Network.