Knights get much-needed win in Miami

The UCF Knights did something they haven’t for two seasons Saturday night, obliterating an FIU team that had haunted their past in some of their worst recent seasons. The 53-14 win featured the Knights gaining more than 500 yards of offense, setting the stage for the Knights when they travel to East Carolina this weekend for their first conference game.

The resounding win, coupled with a season-opening 38-0 smashing of South Carolina State, bookended a pair of big losses against then No. 5 Michigan and Maryland.

The Knights’ offense finally showed what it could do, gaining more than 500 total yards for the first time since Nov. 14, 2014 when the Knights put a 506 yard hurt on Tulsa.

That 2014 performance came courtesy of Justin Holman at quarterback. But a lot has changed with the Knights over the span of the winless season in between.

Holman was absent from the field for his second straight game when the Knights took the field in Miami against FIU. In the place of the Knights’ most experienced play caller their youngest, true freshman McKenzie Milton, took the field and led the Knights’ passing attack with 173 yards and a touchdown. Backing him up, senior Nick Patti went 4-for-5 with 52 yards.

It was on the ground that the Knights found their groove, netting 276 yards, with most of them coming from Adrian Killins with 86, and Dontravious Wilson with 58 yards and three touchdowns. Patti used his dual-threat capabilities to score on the ground with a 9-yard run.

The Knights were much more traditional with their playing style this time around, with head coach Scott Frost shying away from the daring plays that made the Knights’ nail-biter 30-24 loss to Maryland so exciting. He didn’t attempt any fourth down conversions, though that was helped by the Knights converting on third down 9 of 16 times. The Knights were only 5-of-17 against Maryland, when they went 3-for-5 on fourth down attempts.

In the big categories the game was truly lopsided, with the Knights holding the Panthers to 189 yards, and converting 26 first downs to FIU’s 11. The Knights’ run defense was a wall, allowing only 2.4 yards per carry.

Drico Johnson made the backfield even more dangerous, snagging an interception airmailed by backup Panther QB Maurice Alexander and running it back 25 yards before he was taken down on the FIU 15 yard line. The Knights took advantage of the short field immediately, with Wilson racing to the end zone on the next play.

Flirting with the spot of UCF’s top defender, Shaquem Griffin sealed it in Miami with five solo tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks for 10 yards. The Knights would force two fumbles, though FIU recovered both.

The dominating win gave the Knights momentum as they head into their first American Athletic Conference battle against East Carolina, a team whose only losses this season came against South Carolina by less than a touchdown, and Virginia Tech in a 54-17 blowout last week.

The Pirates last season manhandled the Knights 44-7 on UCF’s home field. That was near the end of UCF’s 12-game nightmare that ended George O’Leary’s tenure at UCF and ushered in the Scott Frost era.

Neither team has faced a conference opponent this season, and both have 2-2 records in non-conference play. The Knights are coming off their biggest win so far. The Pirates are fresh off a demoralizing battering. The game starts at noon Saturday, broadcast on CBS Sports Network and 96.9 The Game.

Winter Park football

After a three-game turnaround win streak the Wildcats (3-2) finally met their match at Wekiva (3-2). The Wildcats were coming off a 42-0 blowout of Colonial. They suffered a 35-7 loss.

Quarterback Cameron Legree was held to just 64 yards passing, though he tried to make up for it with 86 yards rushing. His lost fumble and interception didn’t help. Senior Jordan Pouncey raced for 72 yards on nine carries, and collected 25 yards receiving. Junior Brian Gomez caught 38 yards worth of passes.

On defense, Maverick Maensivu seemingly took on the Mustangs by himself, grabbing 14 tackles and a sack.

The Wildcats were scheduled to finally play a home game this Friday, but they’ll be on the road instead as workers lay down the turf and install the scoreboard at the renovated Showalter Field, still set to be open in time for the homecoming game on Oct. 28 against Spruce Creek. But this week they’ll be on the road at Timber Creek (4-1), which dispatched Freedom 41-9 last Friday night.

Edgewater football

The Eagles (0-4) had a bye week last week. They host West Port (1-2) at 7 p.m. Friday.