The UCF Knights had some positive moments and picked up yards offensively. But turnovers in the second and third quarters doomed any chance for a win.
UCF is again trying to find an answer. Or any positive momentum.
Maybe the Knights can take it in the form of Tyler Harris’ solid performance in the second half with the game already decided. Or maybe they can take it the three touchdown catches from D’erren Wilson.
UCF has to find positive somewhere as turnovers in the second quarter allowed Tulane to blow the game open and wear down UCF’s defense in a 45-31 Tulane win at Yulman Stadium on Saturday.
The Knights turned the ball over after a 62-yard reception by Chris Johnson which turned into a one-play, 49-yard pas from Tanner Lee to Teddy Veal. One play later, Bo Schneider was intercepted by Roderic Teamer to set up another Tulane touchdown.
In a little less than 2:30, the Knights went from watching Johnson break past the defense and seemingly be on his way to a touchdown to watching him get chased down, fumble the ball on a forced fumble from behind and two more scores. It could have been 14-10, instead it was 24-7. Somehow UCF rallied for a field goal before the half.
That was about where the optimism for the Knights ended.
The turnovers continued into the third quarter with Bo Schneider losing the ball when it appeared his arm was moving forward at the 10-yard line. Tulane scored one play later. Schneider then threw an interception on UCF’s next play when his receiver fell down. An easy pick for the safety. The Green Wave returned it to the three and scored two plays later.
That made it 38-10 and about all she wrote.
Things just kept going from bad to worse for UCF, as they seem to have done all season so far. The Knights are now 0-5 as the season has teetered over to disaster. Even a simple bowl game would be extremely difficult if this team could somehow turn things around.
If there were positives, the Knights did hold their own offensively. The Green Wave only outgained them 395-357 for the game. Bo Schneider actually produced yards with 236 yards on 20-for-37 passing. He had a touchdown, but that paled in comparison to his three turnovers and fumble. That accounts for four of UCF’s five turnovers.
D’erren Wilson had seven catches for 114 yards and Chris Johnson added six catches for 113 yards. The Knights were able to move the ball. They did so even when Tyler Harris came in as relief. He passed for 156 yards and three touchdowns on 10-for-15 passing.
UCF moved the ball through the air as the run game was completely abandoned. With the production from the running backs, that is not the worst idea.
Turnovers were simply the problem for the Knights. The reason the Green Wave had a short field for most of the game. That is just too much for a young defense. Far too much.
UCF is just not getting out of its own way. And the road only gets more difficult. There might have been some statistical positives, but the end result is the same for a disappointing team struggling to search for any positives and any results.
