The start of the game might have been delayed due to the weather, but the UCF Knights still roughed up the Sam Houston Bearkats 45-14. They also gave us everything we said we wanted in the game preview. Now, it’s knee-jerk reaction time.
First Game Jitters are Out of the Way
Last week, quarterback KJ Jefferson struggled to find comfort or consistency. This week, Jefferson looked a lot more comfortable by starting 4/4 for 43 yards. He kept the mistakes to a minimum. Jefferson was able to blend in his ability to run with the pass and was successful with both. He is deceptively agile for his size and ran for 50 yards on nine carries. It’s no secret Jefferson likes to run, but he can throw the ball. When he left Arkansas, he was the all-time leader in passing with 7,911 yards and 67 touchdowns.
Outside of a questionable fumble call where Jefferson was hit on the throw and the pass went backward, fans have to be content with the product. Jefferson was able to start involving other receivers in the passing game and did not have to rely very much on the running backs coming out of the backfield. Both Xavier Townsend and Trent Whittemore recorded catches along with Kobe Hudson and tight end Randy Pittman Jr. The offense only needs the pass to be serviceable as the running game is the focal point of the offense.
RJ Harvey Continues to Run Through the Record Books
This was a big game for running back RJ Harvey. Yet again, Harvey was able to have multiple large plays en route to more than 100 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. This is big because Harvey passed Adrian Killins Jr and Isaiah Bowser for sixth on the career touchdown list at UCF and also passed Killins, Brynn Harvey, and Latavius Murray to slide into sixth in career yards. Harvey is within striking distance of moving up on both lists this season. In the second half, Harvey scored a fourth rushing touchdown, which ties the team record for most in a single game. It’s now been done six times by five players with Kevin Smith being the only one to do it more than once.
Like last week against New Hampshire, UCF’s running backs overpowered Sam Houston. In the first half alone, UCF outgained Sam Houston 243-16 on the ground. RJ Harvey had 115 of those yards. In the second half, it was more of the same for the Knights, but while UCF had 454 rushing yards against New Hampshire, Sam Houston is a better team and the Knights only managed to muster 384 team yards. Nine different Knights registered rushing stats and the team scored six rushing touchdowns.
The Defense’s Aggressiveness is on Display
I think it’s safe to say that this aggressive style of defense is here to say. Like last week, no one player dominated in tackles, but the technique was very efficient. Players were largely in the right place at the right time and were able to make the play. Nyjalik Kelly, Xe’ree Alexander, and Quadric Bullard all had six tackles each. Kelly had UCF’s first sack of the season, which caused a fumble that Sam Houston’s Eckardt ultimately was able to recover. Both Sheldon Arnold II and Mac McWilliams picked off Hunter Watson passes. Arnold’s interception was near the UCF goal line early in the first quarter. UCF’s defense held the Sam Houston offense to only 286 yards of total offense and only 67 yards on the ground. The soft part of UCF’s schedule is now complete and the defense will be tested against better opposition going forward.
Aggressiveness is a double-edged sword. Sam Houston’s lone score came on a trick play where Noah Smith found Simeon Evans open for a 64-yard pitch-and-catch touchdown after the defense bit on the run. You’re going to have some moments when you play aggressively.
UCF’s Special Teams Continue to Shine
UCF’s special teams did its job once again. Kicker Colton Boomer was perfect once again, hitting a 50-yard field goal and six extra points. As a fan-favorite player, it’s good to see Boomer get back to his 2022 form. Punter Mitch McCarthy didn’t have much work to do, only being called on to punt twice, but he was efficient. Xavier Townsend continued to show his maturity as a returner. He didn’t get many opportunities to run a kickback, but he was able to return a punt for 13 yards. Anytime a player gets double digits on a punt return, it’s a job well done.
The special team’s defense got in the action too for the second straight week. On an errant punt snap by Sam Houston, the UCF special team defense swarmed the ball as it flew the wrong way. Despite Jadon Cardell trying to illegally kick the ball out of bounds, the Knights got the ball at the Bearkats’ two-yard line and it led to a quick touchdown.
Uniform Review
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Earlier in the Spring, the team worked with the Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital to have pediatric cancer patients color the logos. Some were used at the Spring Game. The UCF equipment crew decided to pick out two and use them for this game, which also was Family Weekend. It was great PR and the color block logos looked very nice with the standard black top and bottom.
The predicted score was 45-17. For the second straight game, I got pretty close.
Stat Leaders
Passing
UCF: KJ Jefferson: 12/15 for 169 yards, 0 TD, 0 Int
SH: Hunter Watson: 9/13 for 82 yards, 0 TD, 2 Int
Rushing
UCF: R.J. Harvey: 19 carries for 126 yards, 4 TD
SH: Zach Hrbacek: 8 carries for 25 yards, 0 TD
Receiving
UCF: Kobe Hudson: 5 catches for 104 yards, 0 TD
SH: Simeon Evans: 3 catches for 89 yards, 1 TD
Game Notes
- UCF leads the series 1-0.
- UCF now has 200 wins as a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision(FBS). UCF joined the FBS in 1996.
- RJ Harvey now has 26 career rushing touchdowns, passing Adrian Killins Jr and Isaiah Bowser, and is now tied for fifth in UCF history with Alex Haynes.
- RJ Harvey has passed Latavius Murray, Brynn Harvey, and Adrian Killings Jr to climb to fifth in career rushing yards at UCF.
- RJ Harvey’s four rushing touchdowns tie the school record with Alex Haynes, Darriel Mack Jr, Isaiah Bowser, and Kevin Smith(x2).
- Sorry, it’s not my best, but I spent too much time fighting my spell checker on the proper spelling of “Bearkats”.
