ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -UCF relied on three touchdowns and a career-high 223 yards on 33 carries from running back Kevin Smith in the Knights 37-19 win over Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday night.
Smith, who is the nations second leading rusher averaging 178 yards a game, has six touchdowns in two games and 10 for the season. He left the game in the fourth quarter when he suffered an apparent right shoulder injury on his 33rd carry.
He also took sole possession for third most career rushing touchdowns (26), passing former UCF quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Saturday was his third game with 200 or more rushing yards.
Smiths first score was a 56-yard scamper on the Knights second drive of the game. He added a pair of 1-yard goal line scores in the second quarter and now has 713 yards this season. UCF's Augustus Ashley blocked a punt and returned it 19 yards to put the Knights up 30-6 with 9 seconds remaining in the first half.
The Knights (3-1) kept the Ragin Cajuns (0-5) out of the end zone in the first half. Louisiana-Lafayette had just two red zone drives in the first half and managed three field goal attempts. Kicker Drew Edmiston made kicks of 26 and 22 yards, but missed one from 41.
Louisiana-Lafayette's Derrick Smith opened the third with a 86-yard kickoff return down to the UCF 3-yard line. Marlin Miller gave the Ragin Cajuns its first touchdown with a three-yard run. Derrick Smith also nabbed a 28-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.
Knights quarterback Kyle Israel, who went 11-for-20 passing for 153 yards, hit tight end Corey Rabazinski for a 1-yard touchdown pass. Receiver Rocky Ross led all receivers with six catches for 83 yards.
Saturday's win was the third-straight home game in the Knights brand new, $55 million stadium.
