‘Eraser’ extends lead; UCF wipes out Navy

NO. 20 CENT. FLORIDA 31, NAVY 21

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Central Florida finally had been tested in a tight game, and someone wondered if Coach Scott Frost enjoyed seeing how his team reacted to the situation.

“Heck no,” Frost said Saturday after the Knights’ 31-21 victory over Navy. “I lost a year off my life tonight. You need close games because you need to see how your kids experience those situations, but they’re not fun. It was stressful.”

Adrian Killins ran for 122 yards and two touchdowns, McKenzie Milton passed for 233 yards and the 20th-ranked Knights improve to 6-0 for the first time.

The Knights came in averaging 50.6 points with an average winning margin of 33.8 points. UCF didn’t come close to matching either of those numbers, but it did end Navy’s 17-game home winning streak during the regular season.

“We knew we were in for a battle,” Frost said. “We’re glad and lucky to get out of here with a win.”

It was tied in the third quarter before Killins bolted down the right sideline for a 79-yard touchdown run to put the Knights ahead for good.

“That’s huge,” Frost said. “He’s an eraser, and he erased a tie game.”

Central Florida became bowl eligible and matched last season’s victory total.

The Midshipmen (5-2, 3-2) kept it close, but starting quarterback Zach Abey was forced from the game in the third quarter. Abey was dazed from a hit to the helmet at the end of a run and had to be helped off the field.

Abey, a key figure in Navy’s triple option, carried 25 times for 126 yards and a touchdown — his school-record eighth consecutive 100-yard game. He also threw a touchdown pass.

His backup, Garret Lewis, directed a 75-yard drive that got the Midshipmen to 24-21 with 12:50 left.

“I felt pretty confident out there,” Lewis said. “It’s pretty much like practice.”

Lewis and Navy got the ball back after Milton threw an ill-advised interception. The Midshipmen moved inside the UCF 40 before Lewis sent a late pitch to Darryl Bonner, who fumbled when hit by cornerback Brandon Moore.

“That was my fault,” Lewis said.

Moore recovered the loose ball with just over seven minutes remaining, and UCF freshman Otis Anderson scored the clincher on a 10yard run with 3:30 to go.

“That last touchdown was huge,” Frost said.

AP/JOSE LUIS MAGANA Central Florida running back Adrian Killins (9) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown Saturday during the No. 20 Knights’ victory over the Navy Midshipmen in Annapolis, Md. Hill led the Knights with 122 yards and 2 touchdowns on 15 carries.