The UCF Knights
UCF eager to avenge 2-OT loss to Terps
are preparing to face Maryland this weekend, and the team is eager avenge its double overtime loss to the Terrapins last year.
It’s been a long, strange trip for the UCF football team during the past few weeks, with Hurricane Irma blowing up the regular routine for coach Scott Frost and his Knights.
UCF players have been eager to get things rolling, having not played a game since their 61-17 rout of FIU on Aug. 31. Couple that with the Knights yearning for their rematch against a Maryland team that knocked them off 30-24 in double overtime at home a year ago, and this football team can’t wait to roll into College Park, Md., Saturday.
“It’s kind of weird watching other teams play on Saturday and we’re just at home watching them play,” UCF receiver Cam Stewart said. “I’m just really ready to just get back and play our second game.”
The players, however, say they have no concern about being over-hyped for this much anticipated matchup.
“I don’t think it’s a danger of being over-anxious,” Stewart said. “We just don’t need any nerves. Coach Frost doesn’t want us to play nervous, just play confident. I feel like if we play confident, we’ll be successful.”
As UCF prepares for its second game of the season, Frost said Monday it was a relief to finally settle back into a normal schedule.
“Monday felt like Monday, so it’s the first time in a couple of weeks that a day has felt like it’s supposed to feel,” said Frost. “The players responded well. I thought they came out and practiced really well today, so hopefully we’re taking the first step to getting back on a regular schedule.”
The Knights just want to play, but don’t think last year’s loss to the Terrapins isn’t lingering in the back of their minds. There is plenty of motivation headed into this game.
“We want to shock the world,” defensive lineman Tony Guerad said. “Everybody probably thinks we’re going to lose and stuff. … We want to go up there and shock the world. They’re a good team and we respect them.”
Then his voice trailed off with a smile. It was almost like Guerad had just let out a little secret, but Stewart reiterated the same mentality.
“I feel like this is the game to show the world what we can actually do,” Stewart said. “I feel like we can be that team that can be up there and this is going to be that step we need to take to show where we are.”
The Knights remember last season and the way they squandered opportunities, letting the Terps slip out of Orlando with a victory.
“I remember the last play of the game. That really hurt us,” Guerad said of the double overtime loss. “But we’re gonna come back strong. We want revenge.”
Offensive lineman Jordan Johnson is equally eager to face Maryland.
“We come into this game angry at them from last year because they got us in double overtime,” Johnson said. “I remember the feeling that I had after them game more than anything. I just felt sick to my stomach. … We’re gonna come in ready to get after them and we’re gonna see what happens. ”
Before they do that, however, the Knights will have to figure out a way to slow an offense that has averaged 57 points through two games, victories over Texas (51-41) and Towson (63-17). Maryland has also averaged 351 yards per game on the ground.
“They have a good offense. We respect them because they just knocked off Texas,” Guerad said. “They have a good run game, so we gotta try to stop that.”
Frost knows it won’t be the same Maryland team the Knights faced last year, but neither is UCF.
“I think Maryland is very similar to us,” Frost said. “They saw some improvement last year in the record they had and I think they’ve even taken another step this year. Obviously a big win in Week 1 against Texas.
“They’ve made a bunch of improvements, and I think we have too. The two teams were evenly matched last year and I think both programs have taken some more steps forward.”
“We’re gonna come in ready to get after them and we’re gonna see what happens.” UCF offensive lineman Jordan Johnson