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ARIZ |
UCF |
Refreshed UCF offense snaps five-game losing streak, keeps Arizona reeling
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) RJ Harvey rushed for 184 yards and three touchdowns and new starter Dylan Rizk threw for 294 yards and another three touchdowns to help UCF snap a five-game losing streak, defeating Arizona 56-12 on Saturday.
UCF (4-5, 2-4 Big 12) looked refreshed and energetic for their annual Space Game after the team fired defensive coordinator Ted Roof and switched offensive play-calling duties from head coach Gus Malzahn to offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr. earlier in the week.
The Knights tallied 602 yards of offense, their most since the first game of the season against FCS opponent New Hampshire.
“It was special,” Harvey said. “There was never any quit in this team. We’ve been through a rough stretch. We kept working and it finally paid off.”
The switch to Rizk, the fourth quarterback to start in the last five games, paid dividends as the team got the ball out quicker and moved the ball down the field. That was most evident at the end of the first half when Rizk completed a 48-yard Hail Mary pass to tight end Randy Pittman Jr. It was the senior's first touchdown reception of the season and just his 17th reception of the season.
Pittman added another touchdown late in the game for five catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns, all season highs.
After UCF struggled to spread the ball around throughout the season, Rizk completed passes to seven different receivers. That included a 40-yard touchdown throw to Jacoby Jones, who had five catches for 106 yards, his second straight game with at least 100 yards receiving. He had only two catches for 29 yards before his breakthrough last week.
The Knights were struggling to and finally found their breakthrough with the new quarterback.
“Being prepared is always a big thing," Rizk said. "I know this offense very well. Just waiting for an opportunity to be prepared. I always knew my chance was coming and when it did, I seized the moment.”
The Knights still relied heavily on their ground game, rushing for 308 yards. Harvey accounted for 184 yards on 22 carries, scoring on runs of 17, 18 and 19 yards.
Arizona (3-6, 1-5) struggled to get much going offensively to match UCF's newfound firepower.
Arizona finished with 261 total yards and only five rush yards. Quarterback Noah Fifita completed 24 of 33 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Star receiver Tetairoa McMillan finished with six receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown. Chris Hunter had seven catches for 102 yards.
But Fifita was sacked four times and the Knights' often-struggling defense recorded 10 tackles for a loss.
“A really hard day out there on the football field,” Arizona coach Brent Brennan said. “They got after us in all three phases. It is just totally unacceptable. We need to coach better. We need to go through everything and get back to finding how we can execute in all three phases.”
UCF has had a revolving door at quarterback this season, starting the team's fourth starting quarterback of the season in Rizk, a redshirt freshman.
Rizk came into the game last week against No. 9 BYU and led two late touchdown drives to supplant Jacurri Brown as the starter. Rizk entered the game with only 11 pass attempts and 102 yards, all of those yards coming against BYU.
After cycling through KJ Jefferson, EJ Colson and Jacurri Brown, the strong offensive showing seems to have settled who will start at quarterback for the Knights for the foreseeable future.
McMillan continues to close in on several all-time receiving marks at Arizona. With six receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown, he eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards for the second straight season. He became the first player in Arizona history with back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Additionally, RJ Harvey passed Alex Haynes for second on UCF's all-time rushing yards list. He has rushed for 3,416 yards in his career at UCF. Kevin Smith holds the school record with 4,679 career rush yards.
Arizona continues to reel, losing its fifth straight game and sixth in its last seven. The Wildcats will need to win all three of their final games - vs. Houston, at TCU and vs. Arizona State - to reach bowl eligibility.
UCF looked refreshed on offense, not just with the switch to Rizk but also the change in play calling. After rotating through starting quarterbacks, Rizk had command over the offense, moving the Knights into scoring position and finishing drives. The Knights will need to win two of their final three games to become bowl-eligible.
Arizona is off next week before hosting Houston on Nov. 15.
The Knights travel to Arizona next week to face Arizona State.
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N. Fifita
11 QB 256 PaYds, 2 PaTDs, -22 RuYds |
|
R. Harvey
7 RB 184 RuYds, 3 RuTDs, 14 ReYds, 2 RECs |
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 14 | 32 |
Rushing | 1 | 17 |
Passing | 12 | 11 |
Penalty | 1 | 4 |
3rd Down Conv | 7-14 | 7-10 |
4th Down Conv | 0-1 | 1-1 |
Total Net Yards | 261 | 602 |
Total Plays | 58 | 69 |
Avg Gain | 4.5 | 8.7 |
Net Yards Rushing | 5 | 304 |
Rush Attempts | 25 | 44 |
Avg Rush Yards | 0.2 | 6.9 |
Yards Passing | 256 | 298 |
Comp. - Att. | 24-33 | 20-25 |
Yards Per Pass | 6.1 | 11.9 |
Penalties - Yards | 10-100 | 5-46 |
Touchdowns | 2 | 8 |
Rushing TDs | 0 | 5 |
Passing TDs | 2 | 3 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 1-1 | 3-0 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 5-53.0 | 1-40.0 |
Return Yards | 0 | 0 |
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
N. Fifita
11 QB
|
N. Fifita | 24/33 | 256 | 2 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
K. Reescano
3 RB
|
K. Reescano | 8 | 20 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Lemonious-Craig
5 WR
|
M. Lemonious-Craig | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Johnson
20 RB
|
B. Johnson | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Luke
30 RB
|
K. Luke | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Q. Conley
7 RB
|
Q. Conley | 7 | -2 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Fifita
11 QB
|
N. Fifita | 7 | -22 | 0 | 4 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
C. Hunter
16 WR
|
C. Hunter | 8 | 7 | 102 | 0 | 45 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. McMillan
4 WR
|
T. McMillan | 8 | 6 | 84 | 1 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Olson
84 TE
|
S. Olson | 3 | 2 | 33 | 1 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Patterson
2 WR
|
J. Patterson | 6 | 4 | 31 | 0 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Reescano
3 RB
|
K. Reescano | 2 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Hyatt
13 WR
|
D. Hyatt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Q. Conley
7 RB
|
Q. Conley | 4 | 3 | -3 | 0 | 4 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
O. Goss
27 DB
|
O. Goss | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Johnson
43 DB
|
D. Johnson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
T. Loop
33 K
|
T. Loop | 0/0 | 0 | 0/1 | 0 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
M. Salgado-Medina
19 K
|
M. Salgado-Medina | 5 | 53.0 | 3 | 71 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Patterson
2 WR
|
J. Patterson | 6 | 17.8 | 26 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
D. Rizk
10 QB
|
D. Rizk | 20/25 | 298 | 3 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
R. Harvey
7 RB
|
R. Harvey | 22 | 184 | 3 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Rizk
10 QB
|
D. Rizk | 9 | 51 | 0 | 33 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Montgomery
22 RB
|
M. Montgomery | 7 | 31 | 1 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Johnson
9 WR
|
J. Johnson | 1 | 17 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Richardson
0 RB
|
J. Richardson | 2 | 12 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Brown
11 QB
|
J. Brown | 3 | 9 | 1 | 4 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Jones
16 WR
|
J. Jones | 5 | 5 | 106 | 1 | 40 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Pittman Jr.
5 TE
|
R. Pittman Jr. | 6 | 5 | 84 | 2 | 52 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Hudson
2 WR
|
K. Hudson | 7 | 4 | 58 | 0 | 36 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Johnson
9 WR
|
J. Johnson | 2 | 2 | 22 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Harvey
7 RB
|
R. Harvey | 3 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Fox
6 TE
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K. Fox | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Richardson
0 RB
|
J. Richardson | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
M. Lawrence
51 DE
|
M. Lawrence | 2-0 | 2.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Kelly
11 DE
|
N. Kelly | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Barber
5 DT
|
R. Barber | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Q. Bullard
10 DB
|
Q. Bullard | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
G. Reddick
33 K
|
G. Reddick | 0/1 | 0 | 8/8 | 8 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
M. McCarthy
40 P
|
M. McCarthy | 1 | 40.0 | 1 | 40 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
10:50 | ARIZ 30 | 1:58 | 4 | 10 | Punt |
3:58 | ARIZ 23 | 0:16 | 1 | -6 | Fumble |
3:38 | ARIZ 25 | 2:47 | 6 | 16 | Punt |
2nd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
10:34 | ARIZ 11 | 2:42 | 5 | 38 | Punt |
3:39 | ARIZ 22 | 2:53 | 10 | 78 | TD |
3rd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
15:00 | ARIZ 25 | 2:24 | 3 | -20 | Punt |
10:01 | ARIZ 40 | 1:59 | 6 | 60 | TD |
6:49 | ARIZ 24 | 4:42 | 8 | 26 | Punt |
4th | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
13:32 | ARIZ 7 | 7:01 | 12 | 50 | Downs |
1:56 | ARIZ 25 | 1:56 | 3 | 4 | Game |
1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
15:00 | UCF 25 | 4:10 | 11 | 39 | FG Miss |
8:52 | UCF 20 | 4:54 | 11 | 80 | TD |
3:42 | ARIZ 17 | 0:04 | 1 | 17 | TD |
0:51 | UCF 1 | 5:17 | 12 | 99 | TD |
2nd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
7:52 | UCF 12 | 4:13 | 8 | 88 | TD |
0:46 | UCF 25 | 0:46 | 5 | 75 | TD |
3rd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
12:36 | UCF 24 | 2:35 | 5 | 76 | TD |
8:02 | UCF 25 | 1:13 | 4 | 75 | TD |
2:07 | UCF 13 | 3:35 | 5 | 40 | Punt |
4th | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
6:31 | UCF 43 | 4:35 | 8 | 57 | TD |
- Missed FG (11 plays, 39 yards, 4:10 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (15:00 - 1st) T.Loop kicks 65 yards from ARI 35 to the UCF End Zone. Touchback. |
+1 YD | 1 & 10 - UCF 25 (15:00 - 1st) R.Harvey rushed for 1 yards. Tackled by ARI at UCF 26. |
+12 YD | 2 & 9 - UCF 26 (14:32 - 1st) D.Rizk pass complete. Catch made by K.Hudson for 12 yards. Tackled by ARI at UCF 38. |
No Gain | 1 & 10 - UCF 38 (14:09 - 1st) D.Rizk steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for K.Hudson. PENALTY on UCF-D.Rizk Intentional Grounding 6 yards accepted. |
+4 YD | 2 & 16 - UCF 32 (14:06 - 1st) D.Rizk pass complete. Catch made by R.Pittman for 4 yards. R.Pittman FUMBLES forced by O.Goss. Fumble RECOVERED by UCF-R.Pittman at UCF 36. Tackled by ARI at UCF 36. |
+17 YD | 3 & 12 - UCF 36 (13:10 - 1st) D.Rizk pass complete. Catch made by J.Jones for 17 yards. Tackled by ARI at ARI 47. |
+4 YD | 1 & 10 - ARIZ 47 (12:50 - 1st) R.Harvey rushed for 4 yards. Tackled by ARI at ARI 43. |
+7 YD | 2 & 6 - ARIZ 43 (12:25 - 1st) J.Richardson rushed for 7 yards. Tackled by ARI at ARI 36. |
No Gain | 1 & 10 - ARIZ 36 (11:49 - 1st) D.Rizk steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for K.Hudson. |
No Gain | 2 & 10 - ARIZ 36 (11:44 - 1st) D.Rizk steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for R.Harvey. |
+6 YD | 3 & 10 - ARIZ 36 (11:40 - 1st) D.Rizk pass complete. Catch made by R.Harvey for 6 yards. Tackled by ARI at ARI 30. |
No Good | 4 & 4 - ARIZ 38 (10:54 - 1st) G.Reddick 48 yard field goal attempt is no good Center-UCF Holder-UCF. |
- Punt (4 plays, 10 yards, 1:58 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
+13 YD | 1 & 10 - ARIZ 30 (10:50 - 1st) N.Fifita pass complete. Catch made by T.McMillan for 13 yards. Tackled by UCF at ARI 43. |
No Gain | 1 & 10 - ARIZ 43 (10:19 - 1st) Q.Conley rushed for 0 yards. Tackled by UCF at ARI 43. |
-3 YD | 2 & 10 - ARIZ 43 (9:40 - 1st) Q.Conley rushed for -3 yards. Tackled by UCF at ARI 40. |
No Gain | 3 & 13 - ARIZ 40 (9:01 - 1st) N.Fifita steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for Q.Conley. |
Punt | 4 & 13 - ARIZ 40 (8:59 - 1st) M.Salgado-Medina punts 60 yards to UCF End Zone Center-ARI. Touchback. |
- Touchdown (11 plays, 80 yards, 4:54 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
+9 YD | 1 & 10 - UCF 20 (8:52 - 1st) D.Rizk pass complete. Catch made by J.Johnson for 9 yards. Tackled by ARI at UCF 29. |
+23 YD | 2 & 1 - UCF 29 (8:22 - 1st) R.Harvey rushed for 23 yards. Tackled by ARI at ARI 48. |
-2 YD | 1 & 10 - ARIZ 48 (7:48 - 1st) R.Harvey rushed for -2 yards. Tackled by ARI at ARI 50. |
+2 YD | 2 & 12 - UCF 50 (7:28 - 1st) D.Rizk rushed for 2 yards. Tackled by ARI at ARI 48. |
Penalty | 3 & 10 - ARIZ 48 (7:20 - 1st) PENALTY on ARI-J.Luttrell Personal Foul / Defense 15 yards accepted. |
+4 YD | 1 & 10 - ARIZ 33 (7:00 - 1st) M.Montgomery rushed for 4 yards. Tackled by ARI at ARI 29. |
No Gain | 2 & 6 - ARIZ 29 (6:30 - 1st) D.Rizk steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for K.Hudson. |
+12 YD | 3 & 6 - ARIZ 29 (6:24 - 1st) D.Rizk pass complete. Catch made by J.Jones for 12 yards. Tackled by ARI at ARI 17. |
+6 YD | 1 & 10 - ARIZ 17 (5:47 - 1st) R.Harvey rushed for 6 yards. Tackled by ARI at ARI 11. |
+7 YD | 2 & 4 - ARIZ 11 (5:10 - 1st) D.Rizk rushed for 7 yards. Tackled by ARI at ARI 4. |
No Gain | 1 & Goal - ARIZ 4 (4:33 - 1st) R.Harvey rushed for 0 yards. Tackled by ARI at ARI 4. |