The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
UCF seeking perfection — again, starting with Memphis
AAC CHAMPIONSHIP: MEMPHIS AT NO. 7 UCF, SATURDAY, 3:30 P.M. (ABC)
ORLANDO, Fla. — There are no shortcuts in unbeaten UCF’s quest for perfection.
The seventh-ranked Knights (11-0, 8-0, No. 8 CFP) are one victory away from their second straight American Athletic Conference championship, a likely New Year’s Six bowl bid, and bolstering their argument that they are deserving of consideration for a berth in the College Football Playoff.
None of that is possible, though, without beating Memphis (8-4, 5-3) in Saturday’s AAC title game.
“Really, we still don’t focus on that. We’ve had 11 months of work that have led us to this opportunity: win a conference championship,” coach Josh Heupel said.
“We don’t have to do anything out of the ordinary, but we do have to have a heightened sense of urgency and have great attention to detail because we’re playing a great opponent,” Heupel added. “I expect a great ball game, one that will come down to the end, and we have to compete for 60 minutes.”
While that may sound like a bunch of hyperbole, there are plenty of reasons for Heupel to feel that way — beginning with UCF playing without injured quarterback McKenzie Milton, the twotime AAC offensive player of the year.
This will be the fourth time the Knights and Tigers have faced each other in two seasons. And even with Milton in the lineup, the past two matchups — UCF’s 62-55 double overtime victory in last year’s conference title game, and the Knights’ 31-30 come-from-behind win at Memphis in October — are among the closest calls the defending champs have had during a nation’s-best 24game winning streak.
Some things to watch and know about UCF and Memphis, which won four straight following a 1-3 conference start to win the West Division:
PLAYING FOR MILTON
Milton, eighth in Heisman Trophy balloting a year ago, suffered a severe right leg injury during UCF’s regularseason finale at South Florida. He threw for 2,663 yards and 25 touchdowns vs. six interceptions. Milton also rushed for 307 yards and nine TDs.
Heupel said the Knights will be playing for the junior from Kapolei, Hawaii.
NEXT MAN UP
With Milton out, redshirt freshman Darriel Mack Jr., will make his second start of the season. He led a road victory over East Carolina in October and directed the offense for the final two-plus quarters of last week’s rout of South Florida.
UCF believes it has enough playmakers around Mack, including running backs Greg McCrae and Adrian Killins Jr., and receivers Gabriel Davis, Dredrick Snelson and Tre Nixon, to help the young quarterback be successful.
“We have complete confidence in him, and we expect him to play in a great way,” Heupel said.
“He’s been explosive as a runner and shows tremendous arm strength being able to push the ball down the field,” Norvell added. “The success that he’s had shows a lot about the young man. I think that he will present a great challenge for us.”