UCF stays perfect as coach Frost fights back tears
ORLANDO, FLA. — Central Florida prevailed in a shootout on its home field for the second straight week.
The 15th-ranked Knights captured the American Athletic Conference championship Saturday as they defeated No. 20 Memphis 62-55 in double overtime. It is the Knights’ third AAC crown in the past five years.
They won the East Division last Friday with a 49-42 win over South Florida.
It was a wild game and quite possibly the last at UCF for coach Scott Frost. After it was over, the second-year coach and Nebraska native was asked about reports that he would become the Cornhuskers’ next coach. Frost, fighting back tears, said: “I’m going to go celebrate with my team.”
The top two scoring teams in the country combined for 117 points and 1,479 yards. It was tied at 48 at the end of regulation.
UCF had the ball first in the second overtime and scored on a 1-yard run by Otis Anderson. Memphis got as far as the UCF 9 on its possession but Riley Ferguson’s pass on second-and-goal was intercepted by Tre Neal as the Knights secured a likely spot in a New Year’s Six bowl.
The teams exchanged TDs in the first overtime. Memphis got the ball first and scored when Ferguson connected with Anthony Miller from 15 yards. UCF answered on a 2-yard run by Adrian Killins.
The Knights led 48-34 in the fourth quarter but the Tigers rallied to tie with 4:13 remaining on Ferguson’s 10-yard TD pass to Miller. Memphis had a chance to win in regulation but Riley Patterson’s 51-yard field-goal attempt with 28 seconds remaining was wide left.
McKenzie Milton threw for 494 yards (28 of 40) and five TDs as he was named the game’s most outstanding player. Dredrick Snelson and Tre’Quan Smith caught two TD passes apiece. Milton also rushed for 64 yards and a TD. Anderson rushed for 117 yards on 16 carries.
Memphis’ Ferguson was 30 of 42 for 471 yards and four TDs. Miller had 14 receptions for 195 yards and three TDs. Darrell Henderson (15 carries, 109 yards) and Patrick Taylor (17, 108) each had a touchdown.