There was a new coach for UCF against Cincinnati, but the result remained the same. The Bearcats dominated the Knights amid more offensive futility.
UCF had a new coach and hoped for a new attitude. Unfortunately, the script remained very much the same for the Knights as they fell to 0-9 following 52-7 loss to Cincinnati at Nipper Stadium on Saturday.
The offense could not get itself going again with just 16 first downs and 313 total yards. Compared to Cincinnati, well known for slinging it around, that is not nearly enough.
Bearcats quarterback Gunner Kiel completed all 15 of his pass attempts for 319 yards and five touchdowns. Hayden Moore completed 11 of 15 passes for another 154 yards and another touchdown.
The Knights trailed 21-0 after on quarter and 35-0 by halftime. There was no chance for UCF to recover.
Kiel found Chris Moore for a 16-yard touchdown pass on Cincinnati’s first drive of the game. The Knights though had a response early in the game. They drove 10 plays and 58 yards only to miss a field goal.
The Bearcats came back with a touchdown and the Knights began their implosion.
On the ensuing drive, Justin Holman made his lone turnover, throwing an interception. The Bearcats would score three plays later on a 15-yard pass from Kiel to D.J. Dowdy.
The Knights continually missed opportunities from there as they tried to dig their way out of the big hole. They failed to convert on a first half interception. They turned the ball over on downs on 4th and goal near the end of the first half. They missed a field goal in the third quarter.
UCF finally scored on a 6-play, 73-yard drive culminating in C.J. Jones’ one-yard run.
In all, Holman threw for only 101 yards on 12-for-23 passing. He just was not efficient and whatever more interim coach Danny Barrett had asked of Holman, he was not giving.
The good news at least was Jones picked up 123 yards on 18 carries as the Knights finally got some push on the ground.
It was too little, too late for the Knights throughout. Their reliance on Holman has been a bit unfounded since his return. Then again, there has not been much else to rely on offensively. And the defense has not helped much either.
The Knights’ season of disaster continues to limp to its conclusion.
