No. 9-ranked UCF tops Memphis, 56-41, for title
Without Milton, Knights remain unbeaten at 12-0
Down 17 points to Memphis in the American Athletic Conference Championship Saturday and without star QB McKenzie Milton, the Knights came back and beat the Tigers, 56-41, in Orlando, Fla.
Backup Darriel Mack Jr. scored six total touchdowns as No. 8 UCF stayed undefeated in 24 consecutive games, securing a second conference title in a row.
But it was all Memphis to start. After trading scores, Memphis back Darrell Henderson scored an 81-yard touchdown, extending a Tigers lead to 31-14. He had 166 yards and three scores on six carries at that point.
The Knights cut the lead to 31-21 and regrouped at half. Memphis last led 41-35, but Mack scored a two-yard touchdown run that gave the Knights the first lead of the game at 42-41. UCF then scored the next 21 points.
The Knights will wait to learn their bowl fate Sunday. Heupel was asked what he would like to say to the selection committee. He said to the ABC broadcast team after the game, “You look at what this program’s done for two straight years. This team’s got the heart of a champion. They deserve to go prove it on the field.”
Other title games
Fresno State 19, Boise State 16 (OT): In the Mountain West title contest at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho, Fresno State blocked a point-after attempt to maintain a 13-13 tie with eight minutes left in the game, forcing overtime and shutting down a Broncos comeback. The Bulldogs (11-2) scored a touchdown in the first quarter then Asa Fuller put up two field goals to build a 10-7 halftime lead. That moved to 13-7 then nearly disappeared as Boise State (10-3) drove for a touchdown from Alexander Mattison in the final quarter.
But Matt Boateng forcied Boise State kicker Haden Hoggarth’s first PAT miss of the season before punching in the winning score in OT.
Appalachian State 30, Louisiana-Lafayette 19: Zac Thomas had two rushing touchdowns, Darrynton Evans had a 97-yard kickoff return and host Appalachian State defeated Louisiana-Lafayette 30-19 in the Sun Belt Conference title game in Boone, N.C. The victory earns the Mountaineers (10-2) the conference’s automatic berth in the New Orleans bowl. The Mountaineers (10-2) took a 14-6 lead into halftime. After the deficit slipped to 17-6, the Ragin’ Cajuns (7-6) answered with 10 consecutive points. But Appalachian State pushed to 27-16 and stayed comfortably ahead.
UAB 27, Middle Tennessee 25: Spencer Brown ran for 156 yards and a score as the Blazers, who reinstated their program last season after a two-year hiatus, beat Middle Tennessee 27-25 in the Conference USA title game in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The Blue Raiders (9-4)were set to get a final chance with 1:21 to play but were flagged for having 12 men on the field. The Blazers then took a knee twice. The win gave UAB (10-3) its first 10-win season and its first CUSA title. Brown ran for 1,000 yards for the second year in a row.
Top 25 game
Iowa State 27, Drake 24: Iowa State insisted on playing 12 games. The decision to play Drake nearly resulted in the most embarrassing loss in school history. David Montgomery ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns and No. 24 Iowa State survived a near-upset by the non-scholarship Bulldogs, winning 27-24. The Cyclones (8-4) fought for their seventh win in eight games but It hardly felt like a win. A 19-yard TD pass from Grant Kraemer to Devin Cates built a Bulldogs lead of 24-20 late in the third quarter. The Cyclones responded with a 7yard touchdown reception by Deshaunte Jones to jump back on top for good in the too-close contest.