After being torched for more than 500 yards in each of UH’s last two wins, the Cougars’ defense entered Saturday’s game looking to contain the UCF offense and allow the UH offense to work under a pressure-free environment.
The only problem was the Knights’ offense controlled the pace of the game, putting the Cougars’ offense out of sync for the majority of UH’s 37-32 loss Saturday.
In the end, the Cougars’ penchant for the dramatic was their own worst enemy. Now, they are’ longer control their own destiny in the Conference USA West race, and their top-25 ranking is also in danger.
UH must win their remaining two games and SMU (4-1 C-USA) must lose at least one more game for the Cougars to earn a spot in the Conference USA title game.’
Head coach Kevin Sumlin said his team didn’t respond to the Knights physical game plan.
‘They did some things and turned it into a physical game,’ Sumlin said. ‘I don’t think we matched it consistently.’
The Cougars (8-2, 4-2 C-USA) received the openining kickoff of the second half nursing a 17-10 lead, but went three-and-out and’ allowed the’ Knights to took over at their own 49.
As they did in the first half, the Knights (6-4, 4-2)’ used a run-heavy approach, as’ Brynn Harvey’ scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown’ to close the gap to 17-16 with 8:51 left in the third quarter. The Cougars would remain in the lead, temporarily, thanks to a blocked extra point by L.J. Castille.
UH’s offense didn’t fare much better on it’s next drive, as it was forced to punt after Keenwas sacked by Bruce Miller for a 10-yard loss on third down. UH caught a break when A.J. Guyton botched Chase Turner’s punt, setting UCF up at its own 15-yard-line.
The Knights got a big chunk of that back though, when quarterback Brett Hodges hooked up with Quincy McDuffie for a 27-yard gain. Three plays later, Brynn Harvey went in untouched from 41 yards out’ to give the Knights a 23-17 lead with 5:06 remaining in the third.
After another UH drive stalled, Carson Blackmon’ picked off Hodges, marking the defensive back’s first’ career’ interception,’ to give the Cougars’ offense excellent starting position at the UCF.
Later in the drive, Keenum found an open Cleveland in the end zone on a third-and-2, but he was unable to corral the pass. The Cougars settled for a 21-yard Matt Hogan field goal that closed the gap to 23-20 with 14:53 left in the game.
UCF again used a combination of Hodges’ arm and Harvey’s legs to march 79 yards in 11 plays to take a 30-20 lead with 9:03 remaining.’ Hodges’ connected with’ Quincy McDuffie for a 24-yard touchdown reception to cap the drive, which kept the Cougars’ offense off the field for 5:44.
Keenum threw an interception on UH’s next possession to give the Knights a first-and-goal at the Cougars’ 7. Harvey punched it in one play later to put the Knights up 37-20 with 8:27 left.
Tyron Carrier said the combination of turnovers on offense and stalled drives after the defense forced turnovers was what hurt the Cougars’ most.
‘Turnovers are the biggest thing for offense,’ Carrier said. ‘I personally think the defense has played great the last couple of games and when they give us the ball we have to score.’
The Cougars cut their deficit to 37-26 when Keenum’ completed a’ short’ pass to Carrier, who used a nifty spin move to find the endzone from 31-yards out. But with only 3:39 left to play, time was running out for UH.
Keenum found Chaz Rodriguez for 15-yard touchdown pass that put the score at 37-32 with 10 seconds left, but after a failed two-point conversion and onside-kick attempt, the Knights’ upset was officially complete.
