The Palm Beach Post

Peach Bowl

Central Florida sends Frost off as winner, capping its perfect season with a 34-27 victory over Auburn,

- By Charles Odum

ATLANTA — McKenzie Milton wanted to throw a blanket of 13 wins and no losses over the College Football Playoff.

After Milton and Central Florida capped a perfect season, he suggested it was time to respect the Knights, even if they weren’t invited to the playoff.

Milton threw two touchdown passes and ran for 116 yards with another touchdown, leading UCF to a 34-27 Peach Bowl win over No. 7 Auburn on Monday.

Then it was time to boast. “I said on the podium you can go ahead and cancel the playoffs,” Milton said. “I’m not changing my mind.”

UCF (13-0, No. 12 in the playoff rankings) led 34-20 before having to stop a late Auburn comeback. Antwan Collier’s intercepti­on in the end zone with 24 seconds remaining clinched it.

The UCF players launched a postgame celebratio­n, rolling around in confetti on the field while wearing T-shirts that read “Champions.”

The Knights won in their final game with coach Scott Frost, who stayed with the team through the bowl game after accepting an offer to become the new coach at Nebraska, his alma mater. Frost will bring most of his UCF assistants to Nebraska.

“It was the right thing to do to come coach these guys,” Frost said, holding the game ball. “I’m not happy for me. I’m so happy for these guys.”

The Knights thought they deserved a higher ranking after winning the American Athletic Conference and leading the nation in scoring. They made a strong statement against Auburn (10-4).

Frost said “it wasn’t right” for UCF to not receive more considerat­ion for the four-team playoff.

“They deserve more credit from the committee than they got,” he said.

Auburn was held to 90 yards rushing on 44 carries.

“That was probably the main stat that was disappoint­ing for me,” Tigers coach Gus Malzahn said.

More dominance: The Knights sacked Jarrett Stidham six times. Auburn had only one sack.

After Auburn took a 20-13 lead in the third quarter on a 4-yard run by Kerryon Johnson, Milton threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Otis Anderson to tie it. Milton, under pressure, zipped an 8-yard scoring pass to Dredrick Snelson early in the fourth for the lead.

Chequan Burkett’s 45-yard intercepti­on return for a touchdown pushed the lead to 14 points.

Auburn suffered its second straight loss at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where it was beaten by Georgia in the Southeaste­rn Conference championsh­ip game.

Milton was named offensive MVP. Shaquem Griffin, who had 12 tackles including 1½ sacks, was defensive MVP.

Takeaways

UCF: The Knights passed every test, including on the line of scrimmage, as they proved they could match speed and strength with the Tigers. Milton overcame a slow start and completed 16 of 35 passes for 242 yards with two touchdowns and no intercepti­ons.

Auburn: The Tigers lost momentum after opening the second half with two touchdowns for a 20-13 lead. Cornerback Javaris Davis said the Knights “just wanted it more and they came out and played like it.” Stidham went 28 for 43 for 331 yards with one TD and two intercepti­ons.

Up next

UCF: A new era begins with coach Josh Heupel, the former Missouri offensive coordinato­r. The opening game has not been set, but the Knights will play at North Carolina on Sept. 15.

Auburn: The Tigers will return for their third straight game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium when they play Washington on Sept. 1.

 ?? JOHN BAZEMORE / ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin (the game’s defensive MVP) kisses the Peach Bowl trophy during the celebratio­n with quarterbac­k McKenzie Milton (the offensive MVP).
JOHN BAZEMORE / ASSOCIATED PRESS UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin (the game’s defensive MVP) kisses the Peach Bowl trophy during the celebratio­n with quarterbac­k McKenzie Milton (the offensive MVP).

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