Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
UCF overcomes errors, stays unbeaten at 9-0
The touchdown moment didn’t come exactly when and how UCF running back Otis Anderson envisioned it on Veterans Day weekend.
He initially fumbled a sure touchdown sprint, dancing early and giving UConn defensive back Tre Bell a chance to pop the ball out of his hands less than 15 yards away from the end zone.
But Anderson rebounded with a 65-yard rushing touchdown to open the fourth quarter, helping the Knights pull away for a 49-24 win over UConn and improve the team’s perfect 9-0 record Saturday at Spectrum Stadium.
“It’s a salute game. So my dad was in the service and I really had a lot of emotions flowing in me just to have a great game for him. And my mom’s birthday was yesterday, so I wanted to have a great game,” said Anderson, the son of a Navy serviceman.
“The fumble kind of threw me off kilter, but the team won’t let me keep my head down too long. … After I scored it, I kind of perked back up and brought back what I usually have and that’s juice.”
Anderson’s run — aided by a key block near the end zone from receiver Tre’Quan Smith — marked the third-longest rushing touchdown of the season for UCF. Adrian Killins recorded the two longest from 96 and 79 yards.
Much like Anderson, it wasn’t a perfect day for a UCF offense that’s grown accustomed to scoring basketball-esque numbers. UCF’s offense went cold in the third quarter, marking just the second time this season it was shut out during a quarter. The Knights also went scoreless in the first quarter against Maryland.
But even an uncharacteristic day was still a productive one for UCF’s No. 1 scoring offense, which was largely without Killins’ services after he was banged up in the first half. Coaches also held tight end Jordan Akins out of the game due to a minor injury.
UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton recorded his fifth 300-yard passing game of the season, tying Blake Bortles and Daunte Culpepper for third place in school history for 300-yard passing games in a single season.
Smith finished with 120 yards on seven receptions and collected his 10th 100-yard receiving game, tying him for third all-time at UCF.
UCF was projected to beat UConn by a 40-point margin but 10 penalties for a loss of 84 yards gave the Huskies more opportunities. UConn’s defense also kept Milton on the run in the third quarter and managed to sack him twice.
Adding to the challenges was UConn’s speedy backup quarterback David Pindell, who effectively ran the option on the edges and forced the Knights’ defense to play catch up.