The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
UCF remains unbeaten with win over USF
Late kickoff return touchdown lifts No. 15 Knights.
Mike Hughes 95-yard kickoff return with 1:28 remaining was the difference as No. 15 Central Florida completed the first unbeaten regular season in program history with a wild 49-42 victory over South Florida on Friday in Orlando, Fla., to clinch the American Athletic Conference’s East Division title.
The Knights (11-0, 8-0 AAC) will host Memphis in the conference title game Dec. 2.
Hughes’ touchdown capped a crazy 53-second span where the Knights took an eightpoint lead, South Florida tied it and then the Knights took the lead for good.
The Bulls (9-2, 6-2) tied it at 42 when Quinton Flowers connected with Darnel Salomon for an 83-yard touchdown, and then found D’Ernest Johnson for a 2-point play. Flowers finished with 605 yards of total offense.
McKenzie Milton was 29 of 44 for 373 yards and four touchdowns.
UCF led 21-7 late in the first quarter, but South Florida took a 34-28 lead with 3:41 remaining in the game on Flowers’ 24-yard touchdown run, which marked the first time this season that the Knights had trailed in the second half.
UCF has scored 30 points or more in every game this season, which is the longest streak in the nation.
Flowers threw for a careerhigh 503 yards (24 of 45, four touchdowns) and ran for 102. He had 348 yards in the first half with five completions of 30 yards or more.
Tryre McCants had already set a USF single-game receiving record with 6 minutes remaining in the first half. The junior had 227 yards on nine receptions, including a 55-yard touchdown.
No. 12 TCU 45, Baylor 22: Kenny Hill threw touchdown passes to three receivers and ran for another score to help host TCU wrap up a spot in the Big 12 Championship game.
The Horned Frogs (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) will play No. 4 Oklahoma for the Big 12 title Dec. 2. That will come three weeks after TCU’s 38-20 loss to the Sooners.
Baylor (1-11, 1-8) jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first 2 minutes, including a safety when Hill was sacked and fumbled in the end zone. But TCU was ahead for good after Hill’s 7-yard TD pass to Jarrison Stewart made it 14-9 with 26 seconds left in the first quarter.
Defensive end Mat Boesen set a TCU record with 5½ of the Horned Frogs’ eight sacks.
TCU coach Gary Patterson said after the game he has signed a new contract. The deal is a two-year extension through the 2023 season.
Missouri 48, Arkansas 45: Tucker McCann made a 19-yard field goal with five seconds remaining, and visiting Missouri extended its winning streak to six straight games.
The win caps a remarkable turnaround from a 1-5 start for the Tigers (7-5, 4-4 SEC), who were led by quarterback Drew Lock’s 448 yards passing and five touchdown passes.
David Williams accounted for three touchdowns for the Razorbacks (4-8, 1-7). Austin Allen was 14-of-29 passing for 313 yards and a pair of touchdowns.