UCF handles Marshall; LSU dealing with key injury
TAMPA, Fla. — Central Florida is best known for a high-powered offense, but the Knights are capable of big plays on defense, too.
Richie Grant and Tre’mon Morris-Brash had first-quarter defensive touchdowns, Dillon Gabriel led three third-quarter scoring drives and UCF beat Marshall 4825 in the Gasparilla Bowl on Monday.
“We finished the season the right way,” UCF coach Josh Heupel said. “The turnovers were critical. I thought defensively we started about as fast as you can.”
Grant had a 39-yard interception return on Marshall’s third play from scrimmage 56 seconds into the game, and Morris-Brash recovered a fumble and ran it 55 yards for a score that helped UCF go up 21-0 with 7 minutes left in the first quarter.
Gabriel threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Otis Anderson, connected on a 75-yard score with Marlon Williams, and added a 3yard TD run as UCF went ahead 45-22 with 6:39 remaining in the third.
Gabriel completed 14 of 24 passes for 260 yards as the Knights (10-3) reached 10 or more wins in a school-record third consecutive season. Williams caught seven passes for 132 yards and Greg McCrae had 80 rushing yards on 14 carries.
“We’re happy with the 10-3, but at the same time we know what we could have done,” Gabriel said.
Isaiah Green went 9 of 23 for 173 yards with a TD and had a rushing touchdown for Marshall (8-5). Brenden Knox, the Conference USA MVP, had 103 yards on 26 carries.
LSU’s leading rusher likely to sit out vs. OU
Top-ranked LSU’s leading rusher Clyde Edwards-Helaire is off crutches but still may miss Saturday’s Peach Bowl playoff semifinal against No. 4 Oklahoma at Atlanta.
The Sooners, meanwhile, will be missing starting defensive end Ronnie Perkins and two backups due to suspensions.
Edwards-Helaire suffered a hamstring injury in practice last week. He was only an observer for LSU’s first practice in Atlanta on Monday. He leads the undefeated Tigers (13-0) with 1,290 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns.
LSU coach Ed Orgeron says Edwards-Helaire is “a little bit better“and he described the running back’s status as day to day.
“We’re going to see if he can do something tomorrow,“Orgeron said.
Quarterback Joe Burrow was second on the team with 289 yards rushing. Freshman Tyrion Davis-Price ran for 270 yards with six touchdowns.
The Sooners (12-1) also will be limited. Coach Lincoln Riley confirmed three Oklahoma players, including Perkins, will be suspended for the game for undisclosed reasons. Perkins leads the team with six sacks.
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson and wide receiver Trejan Bridges also will miss the game.