UCF wins opener, takes streak to 14
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — McKenzie Milton passed for 346 yards and five touchdowns as the 21st-ranked University of Central Florida routed the University of Connecticut 56-17 Thursday night to extend college football’s longest active winning streak to 14 games.
The 2017 American Athletic Conference offensive player of the year completed 24 of 32 passes and ran for another 50 yards. Sophomore receiver Tre Nixon, a transfer from Ole Miss, caught five passes, scoring on plays of 34 and 11 yards.
Backup quarterback Darriel Mack Jr. came on in the fourth quarter and broke a 70-yard touchdown run down the left sideline, making him UCF’s leading rusher.
UConn quarterback David Pindell was a bright spot for the Huskies, throwing for 266 yards and a touchdown and running for another 157 yards and a score.
The game was marred by what appeared to be a serious injury to UCF defensive back Aaron Robinson on the opening kickoff.
The sophomore transfer from Alabama seemed to collide head-first with a teammate while making the tackle. He had to be cut from his shoulder pads and was taken off the field on a stretcher, giving the crowd the thumbs-up sign as he was wheeled to an ambulance. His condition was not immediately known.
New coach Josh Heupel’s fast-paced offense was as advertised, putting up 652 yards and scoring eight touchdowns on 11 drives, with each scoring drive taking less than three minutes off the clock.
The Huskies may have lost, but they seem to have found their quarterback in Pindell. In addition to completing 27 of 41 passes and running 22 times, he had a 50-yard touchdown run called back because of a holding penalty.
Despite opening with a conference win on the road, the Knights’ poll position likely will only be impacted by losses higher up in the rankings.