UCF readies to clinch AAC championship

The UCF Knights have their first shutout of the year and momentum to spare as they stare down a must-win game to end the regular football season.

It was sweet revenge for the Knights on Friday. Seven years since suffering one of the most embarrassing losses since joining the FBS, the Knights dealt one back to the team that did it to them: USF. The Knights pummeled the Bulls in a 16-0 victory that will live in infamy for USF; the first home shutout the Bulls have ever suffered.

“On defense, that’s your job; don’t let them score any points,” UCF defensive lineman Thomas Niles told UCFKnights.com after the game. “And we did that. That’s hard to do in college football.”

The Knights refused to call the game a rivalry game, despite falling during rivalry week and coming against the team with which they had their most recent rivalry before it was officially canceled after four straight wins by USF from 2005-08. The Knights’ win likely had the Bulls wishing for the olden days.

It was UCF’s prolific defense holding USF to only 200 offensive yards in the game, allowing only five yards on the ground; the Bulls lost 33 yards in botched run attempts and sacks. The Knights D would rack up six tackles for loss, two of them — both sacks — for 10 yards each.

Clayton Geathers would lead the team with eight tackles and a forced fumble. Terrance Plummer and Brandon Alexander were right behind him with five tackles each.

The game would be a banner day for UCF defense this season, and a season low for the Bulls in yardage and scoring. The Knights hadn’t allowed fewer yards since holding BCU to 173 on Sept. 20.

The Knights are now poised for a Thursday night end-of-season showdown with East Carolina that could seal their fate as co-champions in the American Athletic Conference.

They face some tough odds in Greenville. They’ve played there seven times, and lost six of them. The Pirates haven’t lost a home game all season.

But in recent games, the Knights have been catching up to East Carolina’s early lead in the two teams’ series that dates back to the 1990s, when the Knights lost four straight games. They’re now 2-1 in their last three matchups, with their only loss in that span coming in Greenville.

Another factor working against East Carolina: Momentum. They’re 2-2 in the last four games after starting the season 6-1.

The game may seem like a bit of déjà vu for the Knights, as they’ll face a high-powered offense capable of more yards than any team they’ve seen this season. ECU is averaging almost 544 yards per game, which is substantially more than most teams the Knights have faced this season. ECU quarterback Shane Carden is throwing for 355.6 yards per game. They also have the all-time FBS record holder for career receptions in Justin Hardy.

Good news for the Knights: The last time they faced an offense this potent, against Baylor in last year’s Fiesta Bowl, the Knights walked away with the greatest win in team history. The Baylor Bears had averaged 624.5 yards on offense and scored 53.3 points per game heading up against UCF’s defense. The Knights held the Bears to 550 yards and 42 points in a 52-42 win, never trailing in the game.

The only recourse for the Knights is to win against ECU. If they lose, they lose the championship. Win, and they share it with Memphis, which already has at least a share of conference championship after a 41-10 blowout of UConn last week.

The Knights’ fifth non-Saturday game this season kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, in Greenville. With conference championship and bowl berth implications, it’ll be televised on ESPN.