Knights keep longest streak going

ORLANDO, Fla. — McKenzie Milton threw for 268 yards and accounted for four touchdowns to help No. 11 Central Florida remain unbeaten and extend the nation’s longest winning streak to 23 games with a 38-13 rout of No. 24 Cincinnati on Saturday night.

The junior from Kapolei, Hawaii, passed for three touchdowns without an interception and scored on a three-yard run as the Knights (10-0, 7-0) clinched the American Athletic Conference East Division title and a spot in the league’s championship game.

Milton rebounded from losing a fumble Cincinnati recovered in the end zone for a touchdown on UCF’s first offensive play to complete 13 of 25 passes, including touchdowns of 17 yards and 42 yards to Adrian Killins and 36 yards to Tre Nixon.

Malik Clements’ goal-line sack and Kimoni Fitz’s fumble recovery gave the Bearcats (9-2, 5-2) the early lead, but Cincinnati didn’t get in the end zone offensively until Tavion Thomas scored on a one-yard run nearly six minutes into the fourth quarter.

The first sign it might not be Cincinnati’s night came when Cole Smith missed the extra point after Fitz’s touchdown.

Even though the Bearcats finished with 379 yards total offense to UCF’s 402, the team’s struggles were compounded when Smith missed a 38-yard field-goal attempt and then had a 41-yarder blocked and returned 53 yards to set up the first of Milton’s two touchdown passes to Killins.

The Bearcats also wasted a chance to trim a 21-6 deficit when UCF’s Titus Davis sacked Desmond Ridder, forcing a fumble after Cincinnati drove inside the Knights’ 20 in the final minute of the first half.