UCF and their winning streak were pushed to the brink as the Knights came back from 16 down to defeat the Memphis Tigers 31-30 to extend their run to an FBS leading 19 games. For fans everywhere, this game was heart-stopping and grounds for knee-jerk reactions.

Yeesh. The worst first half of UCF football since the streak started

UCF had all sorts of problems in the first half. Memphis running back Darrell Henderson destroyed the Knights defense running for 172 yards on 21 carries with a touchdown. That’s an 8.2 yards per carry average. Henderson routinely got chunk yardage after contact and leads the FBS in touchdowns.

UCF’s offense was outgained in yardage 339 to 237 in the first half with a 222-31 disadvantage on the ground. Late in the second quarter, the Knights executed a quick two-minute drill that led to a field goal to close the gap to 30-17. McKenzie Milton’s numbers were about what was expected from him, but he was sacked twice when Memphis only rushed three linemen. He went 9-for-14 for 206 yards and a touchdown.

UCF on both offense and defense was killed by penalties. On defense, the Knights had three offsides penalties that kept the Tigers offense on the field. The Knights finished the half with an undisciplined 7 penalties for 61 yards before the break.

Responding to Adversity

When pushed, a team’s real character comes out. It didn’t start well for the Knights as Adrian Killins was caught online screaming on the sideline about play calling. The weather changed, and it began to rain…hard.

Much like the game against Florida Atlantic, UCF had an efficient drive for some points to close out the half and then played a different game in the second half. The Knights were able to get their offense going on first and second down but were never able to improve their third down efficiency, finishing 2-for-12. The Knights did go 2-for-3 on the game on fourth down, including a 71-yard touchdown run by Taj McGowan on 4th and 1 during the third quarter. Head coach Josh Heupel dialed up their jumbo package with defensive lineman Trysten Hill lined up at fullback. Hill made a huge block that broke McGowan free. They later used this formation to convert again while trying to run the clock down late in the game.

UCF’s defense tightened up in the second half, correcting a lot of the errors that were plaguing the Knights in the first half. For starters, Memphis was held scoreless in the second half after running off 30 points in the opening two quarters. Darrell Henderson was neutralized to 27 yards and nothing else outside of a would-be touchdown run that was called back due to holding. Henderson ended up with 199 yards on 31 carries. UCF was able to bounce back offensively outgaining the Tigers in yardage 90-461 after halftime.

On the final drive for Memphis, UCF defensive back Rashard Causey was able to tackle Tony Pollard in bounds and the clock ran out.

Revenge is a dish best served cold

Memphis came into this game looking for revenge. The Tigers got to the cusp of being the Group of Five’s representative to the New Years’s Six bowls and fell in overtime to UCF. Earlier in the season, the Knights stomped the Tigers 40-13. They wanted revenge. Knights players and coaches came out and treated the game like any other. This could not have sat well with the Tigers players and they came out swinging. It took UCF almost a half to get themselves into the game and all the progress made against Pitt and SMU seemingly went out the window. Even in the second half, the offense struggled to get things going. The rain made life miserable for both sides. While revenge is a dish best served cold, it doesn’t taste good soggy.

Random tidbits

*UCF has extended their nation’s longest winning streak to 19 games.

*UCF has scored at least 30 points in 19 straight games.

*Milton now has a streak of 20 games with at least one passing touchdown.

*UCF has forced a turnover in 25 straight games.

*UCF’s win snaps Memphis’ 12 home game winning streak

*UCF has a 12-game winning streak against Memphis dating back to 2005. Memphis’ only win over UCF was before the Knights joined FBS.

I’ve been writing off and on since 2003, where I first wrote for Southern College Sports. After a hiatus, I returned in 2012 with The Sports Chronicles, a predecessor of NGSC Sports. After a brief stint with WBLZ in 2017, I returned to NGSC Sports before joining Blue HQ Media in 2018. Also, from 2015 to 2017, I helped run Off the Cuff, a sports program and blog with STLR Media. I have done radio and podcasts dating back to 2006 with The Student of the Game, an NFL podcast. In 2012, I cohosted TSC Saturday Night on the Sports Chronicles and The OT With Andrew G on WTMY in Sarasota, FL. I later moved the OT to NGSC Sports until 2014 where I started The College Cram, also on NGSC Sports. After a brief hiatus, I returned to radio in 2015 with both Off the Cuff on STLR and The Mad Scientist Sports Lab on The Inscriber.