Can Knights produce high-powered offense away from home, too?

UCF looked pretty stout under the lights in Thursday’s rout of Temple, and a well-balanced offense made all the difference.

It starts in the film room. The players are supposed to use what they learn and apply it to walkthroughs, but that’s easier said than done.

Stance and alignment, snap count and winning one-on-one battles are essential.

“Our guys played their best game. When we can run the football and pass the football, we’re a pretty good offense,” said UCF coach Gus Malzahn. “We got some real weapons and our offensive line is growing.”

The Knights (5-1, 2-0 AAC) had 35 points at halftime. By comparison, in their previous two games, they tallied a combined 23 points in the opening halves.

“We’re at the halfway point [of the season] now and we need to continue to keep getting better,” Malzahn said. “The offense is starting to get into rhythm. It’s all coming together. We have a chance to be a really good offense.”

Quarterback John Rhys Plumlee, who threw for 373 yards, tied the program record for most touchdowns in a game with 7 (3 rushing), joining former quarterbacks Daunte Culpepper and Darin Slack.

“It was a mission complete. When you execute at a high level and get the win, it’s fun for everybody,” Plumlee said. “When everybody executes it makes me look good.”

The offense’s dominance in Thursday’s win also stems from dynamic play by receivers Kobe Hudson and Ryan O’Keefe.

The duo made the run-pass option lethal. They combined for 4 touchdown receptions and 232 receiving yards.

“We could be doing this all year.

We got a new quarterback and new players gelling together and we’re finally doing that,” O’Keefe said. “I feel like we have more confidence.”

Chemistry is the foundation of being a fine-tuned offensive unit. When the ball is snapped, each player must be on a string for it to work like Thursday.

“We believe in ourselves every time we start a drive,” Hudson said. “We come out with a lot of fire and enthusiasm. We just kept our foot on their neck.”

The Georgia Tech game seems long ago when Plumlee completed just 8 passes for 49 yards. Malzahn has relied on his legs, leading to his quarterback being the Knights’ top rusher.

They are best, of course, when both aspects complement one another and Plumlee isn’t tasked with doing it all given his other weapons such as RJ Harvey, Isaiah Bowser, Johnny Richardson and Javon Baker.

With the way UCF’s defense is playing, it will give the offense extra chances to get back on the field. It gives up just 14.3 points per game. The Knights also have the nation’s No. 1 red-zone defense, allowing points on just 11 of 21 trips inside their 20-yard line.

Next up is a game at East Carolina on Saturday. Whether they can they bring that offensive show on the road remains to be seen because the Knights only have had one away game. For that matter, will the defense remain stingy without a home crowd to rattle the opposing team?

The early returns suggest no matter how rocky the start, UCF tends to close strong which is a good sign.

“It’s encouraging to think that we have a good offense,” Malzahn said. “Championship teams play the best football in the second half. We did really good in the second half, so we’re going to keep building on that.”