UCF beats UConn, improves to 9-0
Bethune-Cookman wins shocker on Brihm’s Hail Mary.
Otis Anderson got a little down on himself after committing a costly turnover in the third quarter.
The freshman bounced back in a hurry.
Anderson had a spectacular 65-yard touchdown run in the final period, helping No. 18 Central Florida pull away from Connecticut for a 49-24 victory on Saturday in Orlando.
“After I scored, I kind of perked back up and brought back what I usually have,” said Anderson, who finished with 84 yards and two scores. “My game went from up to down to up so I felt like I had a great game.”
UCF, the highest ranked non-Power 5 school, remained in prime position for a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl. McKenzie Milton completed 24-of-36 passes for 311 yards and two TDs for the Knights (9-0, 6-0 American Athletic Conference), and Tre’Quan Smith finished with seven catches for 120 yards.
But UCF’s potent offense struggled for much of the day, hurt by turnovers, penalties and poor execution. UCF failed to score in the third, just the second time this season the Knights went scoreless in a quarter.
“When you look up and you didn’t have best day but you have 49 points, those are good problems,” UCF coach Scott Frost said. “We can play a lot better, but I think the guys made enough plays.”
David Pindell passed for 201 yards and a TD and also ran for a score for UConn (3-7, 2-5), but the Huskies were unable to keep up. Pindell was inserted into the starting lineup in place of the injured Bryant Shirreffs.
Pindell’s 9-yard TD run made it 28-17 early in the second half. But UCF responded with three consecutive touchdowns in the fourth.
Some of the UCF players admitted they may have relaxed after jumping out to a 21-3 lead by the end of the first quarter. But Anderson’s touchdown in the fourth quarter seemed to wake the team back up.
“It was good to see him (Anderson) go out there and make up for that play,” Frost said. “It was great to see him get redemption with that long touchdown — that play was key in this ballgame.”
The Knights travel to Temple on Saturday for their final league road game.
Bethune-Cookman 13, North Carolina Central 10: Keavon Mitchell came down in the end zone with a Hail Mary touchdown catch as time expired to give the Wildcats (6-4, 5-2 MEAC) a thrilling victory over the Eagles (7-3, 5-2) in Durham, N.C.
NCCU’s Chauncey Caldwell had just thrown a 4-yard touchdown pass to Xavier McKoy to give the Eagles their first lead at 10-7 with 16 seconds remaining. Caldwell led NCCU on a 15-play, 61-yard drive for what appeared to be the game-winning TD.
A short ensuing kickoff gave Bethune-Cookman the ball 48 yards from the end zone. Former Village Academy star Larry Brihm Jr. threw an incomplete pass on first down, but then connected Mitchell to shock the home crowd.
The victory has the Wildcats and NCCU tied for third in the conference.