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The game was no problem, but other things were. The UCF Knights took care of Florida A&M with ruthless ease in their season opener, 62-0 on Thursday night.
But a key injury in odd circumstances and some shakiness at the QB spot raise at least some questions heading into next week against FAU.
Highlights
Postgame Presser
Four Downs
- Brandon Wimbush was pretty good, but not mindblowing. He finished 12/23 for 168 yards and two TDs, but was plagued by the same thing that plagued him throughout his career at Notre Dame: Inaccuracy. He missed several throws top open receivers, and even some of his completions were not quite on the spot where they needed to be. It’s a source of concern.
- Dillon Gabriel looked really good. I know, it’s against FAMU, and he also had the benefit of some amazing field position. But he finished 9/13 for 127 yards and 3 TDs, looking quite sharp in the process, and UCF scored touchdowns on four of his five of his drives. That’s a pretty good debut.
- Good Lord, the defense. Wow. FAMU had just 25 yards on 32 plays in the first half, including -9 yards rushing and 5/22 through the air. They finished with 96 yards allowed for the game (4 rushing!) despite forcing no turnovers. Randy Shannon took his lumps last year for first-half performances, but this was evidence that the defense is much more comfortable in Year Two of his regime.
- Oh no, not again. Late in the third quarter, on a play that was blown dead because it was incomplete, Brandon Moore (who was inexplicably still in the game up 55-0) appeared to have severely hurt his left leg after he was hit by a FAMU player. Neither player heard the late whistle.
The scene afterwards was nauseatingly familiar:
The whole #UCF sideline emptied to greet Brandon Moore as he is carted off the field following a gruesome injury.
— Jeremy Brener (@JeremyBrener) August 30, 2019
Eerily similar to when the team did so last season for McKenzie Milton. pic.twitter.com/DYkmOcX3Y0
Josh Heupel said in his postgame interview on CBS Sports Network that Moore was taken to the hospital. Heupel also said in his postgame presser that Moore was out there because there was a snap count his players were expected to hit before coming out for good.
We’ll update you as soon as possible.
Stat of the Game
Total Yards: UCF 694, Florida A&M 96
Total domination. Also:
What a Knight for the @ucf_football QBs pic.twitter.com/rdQf7WzFPR
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) August 30, 2019
Highlight of the Game
This was my favorite highlight from 1H.
— Jeff Sharon (@Jeff_Sharon) August 30, 2019
Watch that little hitch to the right by Greg McCrae a split second before he hit the hole. Then watch it again on the replay.
That's an NFL move. #UCF https://t.co/V1gxpe2r6X
Knights of the Night
Adrian Killins. It was the quietest 106 yards rushing you’ve ever seen. But AK took care of business in the first game of his senior season, averaging 7.6 yards per carry on 14 totes.
Gabe Davis. 3 catches, 68 yards, two TDs. And it could have been more. But he made it look easy. Let’s give some extra love to Gabe, who saw his high school teammate Bam Moore carted off in the third and was visibly upset over it.
Noah Hancock. Because we have to pick someone from the defense:
THE NOAH HANCOCK GAME. https://t.co/D0SnjupRKh
— Black & Gold Banneret (@UCF_Banneret) August 30, 2019