Behind Milton, UCF routs Bearcats in premier matchup

McKenzie Milton threw for 268 yards and accounted for four touchdowns to help No. 11 UCF remain unbeaten and extend the nation’s longest winning streak to 23 games with a 38-13 rout of No. 19 Cincinnati on Saturday night in Orlando, Fla.

The junior from Kapolei, Hawaii, passed for three TDs without an interception and scored on a 3-yard run as the Knights (10-0, 7-0) clinched the American Athletic Conference East Division title and a spot in the league’s championship game.

Milton rebounded from losing a fumble Cincinnati recovered in the end zone for a touchdown on UCF’s first offensive play to complete 13 of 25 passes, including TDs of 17 yards and 42 yards to Adrian Killins and 36 yards to Tre Nixon.

Malik Clements’ goal-line sack and Kimoni Fitz’s fumble recovery gave the Bearcats (9-2, 5-2) the early lead, but Cincinnati didn’t get in the end zone offensively until Tavion Thomas scored on a 1-yard run nearly six minutes into the fourth quarter.

The first sign it might not be Cincinnati’s night came when Cole Smith the missed the extra point after Fitz’s TD.

Even though the Bearcats eventually finished with 379 yards total offense to UCF’s 402, the team’s struggles were compounded when Smith missed a 38yard field goal and then had 41-yarder blocked and returned 53 yards to set up the first of Milton’s two TD passes to Killins.

Temple 27, USF 17: Isaiah Wright returned a punt 73 yards for a go-ahead touchdown, and Chapelle Russell recovered a fumble in the end zone to cap a big second half as Temple rallied for a victory over South Florida in Philadelphia.

The Owls (7-4, 6-1) trailed 17-0 at halftime, but forced five second-half turnovers to aid their comeback.

Temple got on the scoreboard with its first possession of the third quarter when Ryquell Armstead capped a 10-play, 69yard drive with a 1-yard TD run.

The Owls recovered a fumble on the Bulls’ ensuing possession and marched 43 yards before Will Mobley’s 33-yard field goal pulled them to 17-10.

Temple forced a punt, and the Owls drove 61 yards in nine plays and used Mobley’s 36-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 17-13.

Temple forced a three-and-out, and Wright returned the punt to put the Owls up, 20-17.

Anthony Russo passed for 264 yards for the Owls, connecting with 11 receivers.

Jordan Cronkrite ran for 87 yards and two first-half TDs for the Bulls (7-4, 3-4).

Navy 37, Tulsa 29: Zach Abey ran for 128 yards and two touchdowns as Navy snapped a seven-game losing streak with a victory over Tulsa in Annapolis, Md.

The teams entered the game tied for last in the West Division of the AAC.

The Midshipmen (3-8, 2-5) were able to distance themselves behind Abey, who was making his third straight start at quarterback and was effective running the triple-option attack.

“We ran the Navy offense,” Abey said. “We executed in every way. We played physical. We got after those guys, and it showed. Everyone did their job.”

Navy amassed 389 yards on the ground and sent the Golden Hurricane (2-9, 1-6) to their ninth loss in 10 games.

Navy slotback Malcolm Perry broke a 52-yard scamper early in third quarter that set up a short field goal by Bennett Moehring and increased its lead to 30-16. That run pushed Perry over 1,000 yards rushing for the second straight season.

Navy fullback Mike Martin had a critical fumble that led to a 3-yard touchdown run by Tulsa running back Corey Taylor early in the fourth quarter. Midshipmen defensive end Jarvis Polu blocked the extra point to keep the deficit at eight points.

Trey Walker answered on the ensuing possession when he took a pitch from Abey and ran 33 yards down the near sideline for a TD and a 37-22 lead.

Tulsa showed some life on Taylor’s third touchdown of the game with 4:46 remaining.

However, Navy picked up a couple of first downs to seal the win.