Streak disappears on trick play

Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots.

Pitt trailed by six when Pickett drove the Panthers to the UCF 3. Running back A.J. Davis took a direct snap with Pickett going in motion. Davis handed the ball to Matthews, who rolled to his right and hit Pickett in the end zone.

UCF’s last-gasp drive went nowhere.

Pickett completed 25 of 47 passes for 224 yards with a touchdown despite leaving briefly with a right arm injury.

Maurice Ffrench and Dontavius Butler-Jenkins caught touchdown passes for the Panthers, who bounced back from an emotional loss to rival Penn State last week by withstanding a 31-point outburst from the Knights (3-1) in the middle of the game.

UCF quarterback Gabriel Dillon passed for 338 yards and two touchdowns but also threw his first two interceptions of the season.

Gabriel Davis hauled in 10 passes for 151 yards and two scores, but the Knights’ high-tempo offense didn’t run as efficiently as it had during three blowouts to start the year.

UCF finished with 423 yards, 180 under its season average. The Knights will host UConn on Saturday at 7 p.m.

The Panthers reeled off the game’s first 21 points, i n c l u d i n g a n 18-ya rd blocked punt return for a touchdown midway through the second quarter. Trailing by three touchdowns for the first time since a blowout loss to Michigan in 2016, UCF responded emphatically, with a little help from the Panthers.

A.J. Davis fumbled deep in Panthers territory with 5:41 left in the first half. Adrian Killins scored four plays later, and UCF was off and running.

Gabriel found Gabe Davis for two third-quarter touchdowns. Those sandwiched an 87-yard punt return for a score by Otis Anderson, who broke several tackles while racing down the left sideline to the end zone.