/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61751659/UCF-vs-ECU-163-e1508115298472.0.0.jpg)
When UCF assembled its scouting report for ECU, the coaches and players had to salivate. They were about to pit the #1 scoring offense in the nation against one of its worst scoring defenses on Homecoming. This could get ugly in a hurry.
They were right.
Nine different Knights scored touchdowns, and UCF advanced to 5-0 for only the second time in school history, and the first time since the halcyon Division II days of 1988, with a 63-21 victory over ECU.
Here's a look back at the game:
The Highlights
The Reaction
The Photos
Catch Derek Warden's photo gallery HERE!
The Good
The offense. They did what they were supposed to: Score in bunches and rack up yards:
603 total yards. 365 passing yards, 238 rushing yards (Balance FTW!). 5.7 yards per rush, and 11.8 yards per pass. Nine different players with nine touchdowns. Only one sack (the second of the season given up!) and one turnover. And 63 points.
It was UCF's highest-scoring game since the season opener in 2001 against Liberty. And it was expected.
The Bad
The fans. Where the hell were you? It was Homecoming. The students came out. What about the rest of you?
Late arriving crowd? C'mon. Beautiful weather. Top 25 ranking. 7 pm start. Smh. #chargeon pic.twitter.com/C619BzsIDc
— The Knightline Sports Network (@UCF_Knightline) October 14, 2017
The official attendance for this game was 40,287. How are there almost 5,000 empty seats in Spectrum Stadium for this game? This is a UCF team that's scoring more points than any other in the nation, is ranked in the top 25, and is a more exciting product to watch than any UCF team since at least 2002.
I'm pretty sure it wasn't because you thought the stadium might fall down.
What does this team have to do to get you to care?
The Concerning
The run defense. They gave up 5.1 yards per rush to a team that was 117th in the country in rushing yards per game at just over 107 per contest. The tackling, particularly on a 57-yard run by Darrius Pinnix, was suspect at times.
I don't want to me Debbie Downer here. UCF still held ECU to 21 points and just 160 yards passing. But you can get away with that against ECU this year.
But you CANNOT get away with it against Navy, the #1 rushing offense in the nation at 397.5 yards on the ground per game.
The Unremarkably Amazing
Special Teams. Especially punt returning and coverage. Mike Hughes brought back two punts for scores (one was brought back due to an illegal block penalty), and punter Mac Loudermilk, who had the week off last week through no fault of anyone but UCF's offense, averaged 46.3 yards on three kicks and dropped one of them inside the one.
Looks like @ShooterMcGavin_’s got serious competition at the Waterbury Open this year.
— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) October 15, 2017
Mac with the beautiful chip downed at the 1! pic.twitter.com/YUOBMvyIyu
The Knights are now second in the nation in punt returns at 22.5 per return.
The Turning Point
It's tempting to say the opening kickoff, but I'm not that mean.
Let's go back to the start of the second quarter. UCF was up 21-7, but ECU moved the ball to the UCF 42 before stalling. A great punt dropped UCF to its own 5.
The Knights went 3-and-out, and for a second, ECU had field position and some life with a chance to get back within a score. But three plays and 56 seconds later, again ECU was punting, and again they pinned the Knights back, this time at their own 4.
7 plays, 2:21, and 96 yards later, UCF was in the end zone. A 42-yard completion to Cam Stewart was the big play, and McKenzie Milton capped it off with a 1-yard keeper. Just like that, it was 28-7:
Milton just moseys on into the end zone to build @UCF_Football's lead pic.twitter.com/gWrcKWrwyW
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 15, 2017
A kickoff and two plays later, Tre' Neal picked off an errant pass from Thomas Sirk and raced 50 yards untouched for a pick-6, and the game was essentially over at that point.
The @UCF_Football defense decides to get in on the act as they take this Pick-6 to the house. pic.twitter.com/QhdD6s8EUv
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 15, 2017
Stat of the Night
This is the first season @UCF_Football has posted multiple 60 point games on offense(FIU 61, ECU 63)
— UCF Marc Daniels (@ucf_marcdaniels) October 15, 2017
Again, what does this team have to do to get you to care enough to show up in force?
Next Up
— Navy Athletics (@NavyAthletics) October 14, 2017
Like we said earlier, this is the #1 rushing offense in the land. They were undefeated prior to this past weekend. They're at home. They're Navy. They're probably pissed.
Saturday at 3:30 in Annapolis, Maryland. Buckle up.