UCF routs Temple, heads to War on I-4 unbeaten
PHILADELPHIA » There were so many reasons for UCF coach Scott Frost to worry about his team’s focus this week.
With a huge game looming, playing an improving Temple team in a stadium where the empty seats outnumbered the filled ones by about a 3-1 ratio on a chilly, gray day had all the makings of a tricky spot for the Knights.
Then Frost saw his wide receivers and defensive backs warming up at Lincoln Financial Field with their shirts off in the 40-degree temperatures.
“I knew right then team’s mindset was in right place,” Frost said.
McKenzie Milton threw four touchdown passes and our the ran for a score as No. 14 Central Florida comfortably took care of business against Temple, winning 45-19 Saturday to stay unbeaten heading into a division title showdown with rival USF.
The Knights (10-0, 7-0 American Athletic conference, CFP No. 15) turned three Temple turnovers inside the Owls’ 25 into 17 first-half points, taking a 31-10 lead when Gabriel Davis stretched across the goal line for a 5-yard touchdown reception with 2:36 left in the second quarter.
The AAC East Division will be decided in Orlando, Florida, on Black Friday, when No. 23 South Florida (91, 6-1) visits UCF. Temple (56, 3-4) could have been easy to overlook for the Knights. The game had no bearing on whether they play for a conference title and a loss probably wouldn’t have damaged their chances to receive a bid to a New Year’s Six bowl.
Frank Nutile, who helped revive Temple’s offense when he took over at quarterback four games ago, was picked off four times. Nutile said he apologized to his teammates for a poor game.
“At the end of the day our goal is to send the seniors off the right way. Finish off 6-6. Get bowl eligible and stuff like that. It’s still right,” Nutile said. PENN 29, CORNELL 22 » Tre Solomon scored on a 3-yard run with 2:06 to play, Jacob Martin broke up a pass on third-and-goal from the 1 on the final play of the game and Penn (6-4, 4-3 Ivy League) capped its season with its fourth win in a row, over Cornell (3-7, 3-4).
Solomon’s score capped a 13-play, 97-yard drive that chewed up six minutes. The Big Red responded by driving 72 yards, reaching the 1 when Dalton Banks hit Collin Shaw for 28 yards on third-and-10.
With 18 seconds left and no timeouts, Harold Coles attempted to dive over the top but was stuffed. Dalton Banks spiked the ball as time ran out but Cornell was given one last play. Banks rolled right and tried to hit Josh Sweet.