I'm still riding high from the game last night after I went to bed around 2 AM and got up around 8 AM this morning. In many ways, we've forgotten what a big time win feels like around here. I don't want it to be so far between other big game wins. I'm so proud of our staff and players for not tanking from some miscues in the first half and then coming out in the second half and taking control on the field. I'm also proud of our students and fans who packed the Nip on a Friday night! The stadium looked awesome on TV and the announcers kept referencing the atmosphere and how loud it was. Here's some love from Kirk Herbie:
We've got to keep this train rolling and not suffer a letdown in the coming weeks.
(This post was last modified: 10-05-2019 08:42 AM by UCGrad1992.)
Quote:Cincinnati makes AAC statement with win over No. 18 UCF as Knights see more streaks snapped
Cincinnati claimed its first regular season win over a ranked opponent since 2009
Cincinnati defeated No. 18 UCF 27-24 on Friday night to join Temple in first place the AAC's East Division. And the Bearcats' upset? Well, it was hardly an upset. They never let up after taking a lead midway through the third quarter, holding the potent Knights offense to only eight points over the final two quarters. Cincinnati controlled the clock and held serve despite a late UCF push, converting on a late fourth-and-1 play to ice the game.
The big question in this game would be which strength would win out -- UCF's offense, which ranks top 10 in the country or Cincinnati's defense, which ranks inside the top 25 nationally. It was clear the latter won the day. In addition to suffocating the Knights by holding them to a season-low 24 points -- the lowest offensive output for the program since the 2016 season -- the Bearcats forced four turnovers while forcing freshman quarterback Dillon Gabriel into committing three of them via interceptions.
The loss for UCF ends its 20-game winning streak in AAC play that dated back to the 2016 season and also its 31-game streak of scoring 30 or more points. Streaks ending for the Knights has become an unwelcome theme in recent weeks. In Week 4, the Knights were defeated by Pitt, a loss that snapped the program's then-FBS record of 27 consecutive wins in the regular season.
UCF's offense managed to still outgain Cincinnati through the air and in total yards, but Cincinnati's 192 yards rushing was key to its win, allowing it to own time of possession and drain the clock late. Junior running back Michael Warren II rushed for 133 of those yards while quarterback Desmond Ridder -- who also threw for two scores -- added 41 yards on the ground.
For Cincinnati, this was a huge statement. After being flattened by Ohio State 42-0 in Week 2, the Bearcats have ripped off three consecutive wins culminating with their first victory over a ranked opponent in the regular season since 2009.
Quote:Cincinnati makes AAC statement with win over No. 18 UCF as Knights see more streaks snapped
Cincinnati claimed its first regular season win over a ranked opponent since 2009
Cincinnati defeated No. 18 UCF 27-24 on Friday night to join Temple in first place the AAC's East Division. And the Bearcats' upset? Well, it was hardly an upset. They never let up after taking a lead midway through the third quarter, holding the potent Knights offense to only eight points over the final two quarters. Cincinnati controlled the clock and held serve despite a late UCF push, converting on a late fourth-and-1 play to ice the game.
The big question in this game would be which strength would win out -- UCF's offense, which ranks top 10 in the country or Cincinnati's defense, which ranks inside the top 25 nationally. It was clear the latter won the day. In addition to suffocating the Knights by holding them to a season-low 24 points -- the lowest offensive output for the program since the 2016 season -- the Bearcats forced four turnovers while forcing freshman quarterback Dillon Gabriel into committing three of them via interceptions.
The loss for UCF ends its 20-game winning streak in AAC play that dated back to the 2016 season and also its 31-game streak of scoring 30 or more points. Streaks ending for the Knights has become an unwelcome theme in recent weeks. In Week 4, the Knights were defeated by Pitt, a loss that snapped the program's then-FBS record of 27 consecutive wins in the regular season.
UCF's offense managed to still outgain Cincinnati through the air and in total yards, but Cincinnati's 192 yards rushing was key to its win, allowing it to own time of possession and drain the clock late. Junior running back Michael Warren II rushed for 133 of those yards while quarterback Desmond Ridder -- who also threw for two scores -- added 41 yards on the ground.
For Cincinnati, this was a huge statement. After being flattened by Ohio State 42-0 in Week 2, the Bearcats have ripped off three consecutive wins culminating with their first victory over a ranked opponent in the regular season since 2009.
Quote:Cincinnati makes AAC statement with win over No. 18 UCF as Knights see more streaks snapped
Cincinnati claimed its first regular season win over a ranked opponent since 2009
Cincinnati defeated No. 18 UCF 27-24 on Friday night to join Temple in first place the AAC's East Division. And the Bearcats' upset? Well, it was hardly an upset. They never let up after taking a lead midway through the third quarter, holding the potent Knights offense to only eight points over the final two quarters. Cincinnati controlled the clock and held serve despite a late UCF push, converting on a late fourth-and-1 play to ice the game.
The big question in this game would be which strength would win out -- UCF's offense, which ranks top 10 in the country or Cincinnati's defense, which ranks inside the top 25 nationally. It was clear the latter won the day. In addition to suffocating the Knights by holding them to a season-low 24 points -- the lowest offensive output for the program since the 2016 season -- the Bearcats forced four turnovers while forcing freshman quarterback Dillon Gabriel into committing three of them via interceptions.
The loss for UCF ends its 20-game winning streak in AAC play that dated back to the 2016 season and also its 31-game streak of scoring 30 or more points. Streaks ending for the Knights has become an unwelcome theme in recent weeks. In Week 4, the Knights were defeated by Pitt, a loss that snapped the program's then-FBS record of 27 consecutive wins in the regular season.
UCF's offense managed to still outgain Cincinnati through the air and in total yards, but Cincinnati's 192 yards rushing was key to its win, allowing it to own time of possession and drain the clock late. Junior running back Michael Warren II rushed for 133 of those yards while quarterback Desmond Ridder -- who also threw for two scores -- added 41 yards on the ground.
For Cincinnati, this was a huge statement. After being flattened by Ohio State 42-0 in Week 2, the Bearcats have ripped off three consecutive wins culminating with their first victory over a ranked opponent in the regular season since 2009.
Quote:Cincinnati makes AAC statement with win over No. 18 UCF as Knights see more streaks snapped
Cincinnati claimed its first regular season win over a ranked opponent since 2009
Cincinnati defeated No. 18 UCF 27-24 on Friday night to join Temple in first place the AAC's East Division. And the Bearcats' upset? Well, it was hardly an upset. They never let up after taking a lead midway through the third quarter, holding the potent Knights offense to only eight points over the final two quarters. Cincinnati controlled the clock and held serve despite a late UCF push, converting on a late fourth-and-1 play to ice the game.
The big question in this game would be which strength would win out -- UCF's offense, which ranks top 10 in the country or Cincinnati's defense, which ranks inside the top 25 nationally. It was clear the latter won the day. In addition to suffocating the Knights by holding them to a season-low 24 points -- the lowest offensive output for the program since the 2016 season -- the Bearcats forced four turnovers while forcing freshman quarterback Dillon Gabriel into committing three of them via interceptions.
The loss for UCF ends its 20-game winning streak in AAC play that dated back to the 2016 season and also its 31-game streak of scoring 30 or more points. Streaks ending for the Knights has become an unwelcome theme in recent weeks. In Week 4, the Knights were defeated by Pitt, a loss that snapped the program's then-FBS record of 27 consecutive wins in the regular season.
UCF's offense managed to still outgain Cincinnati through the air and in total yards, but Cincinnati's 192 yards rushing was key to its win, allowing it to own time of possession and drain the clock late. Junior running back Michael Warren II rushed for 133 of those yards while quarterback Desmond Ridder -- who also threw for two scores -- added 41 yards on the ground.
For Cincinnati, this was a huge statement. After being flattened by Ohio State 42-0 in Week 2, the Bearcats have ripped off three consecutive wins culminating with their first victory over a ranked opponent in the regular season since 2009.
Quote:UCF offense stalls, Knights suffer big loss at Cincinnati
The UCF offense woke up too late.
The No. 18 Knights struggled to move the ball against a bruising Cincinnati defense until the final five minutes of the game with UCF trailing by 11 points Friday night. The Knights scored a quick touchdown and added a two-point conversion, but they couldn’t get the ball back and had to trudge out of Nippert Stadium with their second crushing loss of the season.
UCF saw a season full of promise that began with goals of a third consecutive American Athletic Conference championship and a possible spot in a New Year’s Six Access Bowl evaporate Friday night.
Much like it had done against Pittsburgh two weeks earlier, No. 18 UCF (4-2, 1-1 AAC) struggled on offense early, with true freshman quarterback Dillon Gabriel turning the ball over four times, including a pick-six, as Cincinnati (4-1, 1-0 AAC) toppled the Knights 27-24 in front of a raucous home crowd that rushed the field after time expired.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed in the result, but I am proud of how the guys competed. They never gave up and they competed fiercely to the end,” UCF coach Josh Heupel said. “We didn’t do enough to win the football game today.”
The last time UCF lost two games in a season was in 2016.
The Knights’ streak of 33 consecutive weeks being ranked in the Associated Press top-25 poll will most likely come to an end when the new poll is released Sunday.
UCF now finds itself chasing Cincinnati in the AAC East Division race, with the Bearcats holding the division tie-breaker.
The Knights were in the red zone six times but only managed three field goals and one touchdown. UCF entered Friday evening’s game ranked eighth in the conference after converting 78% of its red-zone opportunities with 15 touchdowns and three field goals.
“Early in the football game, we had multiple opportunities in the first quarter and we came away with three points. That can and it did come back to haunt us tonight,” Heupel said. “Opportunities were wasted and points were there to be had and we didn’t take advantage of it.”
Greg McCrae scored on a one-yard run in the final minute of the first half to give UCF a 16-10 lead. It was the fifth rushing touchdown of the season for the junior, who entered the game leading the Knights in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
Tay Gowan secured the first takeaway for the Knights after intercepting Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder three minutes into the second quarter. It was the second interception on the season for the junior cornerback and the third takeaway.
Big chunks of yards in the first half and timely defensive stops, however, didn’t translate to UCF points.
As much as Gabriel and the Knights struggled to reach the end zone in the first half, the third quarter was worse. Penalties and turnovers were a big problem for the Knights.
During the third possession of the second half, Cincinnati’s Ahmad Gardner stepped in front of a Gabriel pass and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown to give the Bearcats a 20-16 lead.
“I didn’t do my part,” a dejected Gabriel said following the loss. “The three turnovers [interceptions] on my part — that’s unacceptable. I have to come out and play a lot better.”
One of the bright spots for the UCF offense was receiver Gabe Davis, who finished with a team-high 13 catches for 170 yards. It was the junior’s third straight 100-yard receiving game.
Just when the rest of the Knights’ offense started heating up around Davis, the clock ran out on the Knights.
“A lot of guys are disappointed,” said linebacker Nate Evans, who led the team with a career-high 17 tackles. “But I told them we still have plenty more games to go. If we beat ourselves up, that’s when the bad things start to happen. We have to keep our heads up.”
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UCF Aftermath: Let's Keep This Thing Rollin'
UCF Aftermath: Let's Keep This Thing Rollin' 
