Akron, OH (Sports Network) - Blake Bortles tossed three touchdown passes
as the UCF Knights kicked their season off in electrifying fashion, defeating
the Akron Zips 56-14 at InfoCision Stadium.
Bortles was impressive in his first career start, completing 13 of his
16 passes for 168 yards for the Knights (1-0). Two of his scores went to
Rannell Hall who caught four balls for 94 yards. Latavius Murray had 14
carries for 108 yards for his fourth career 100-yard game. Storm Johnson
rushed for a pair of touchdowns in his UCF debut as well.
For Akron (0-1), Dalton Williams went 30-of-50 for 245 yards with two
touchdowns and an interception. L.T. Smith and Marquelo Suel each had seven
receptions and a touchdown.
UCF got the scoring started on its first drive. After Murray carried the ball
six times for 68 yards on the drive - highlighted by a 43-yard run - Bortles
connected with Chris Martin on a five-yard touchdown strike to give the
Knights a 7-0 lead less than four minutes into the game.
The Knights extended their lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter following
a 10-play, 80-yard drive, punctuated by a two-yard touchdown run by Murray.
Later in the frame the Zips fumbled deep in their own territory, giving the
ball to UCF inside their own 10-yard line. Johnson capitalized with a two-yard
touchdown run to bring the Knights' lead to 21-0 with 8:06 remaining in the
first half.
The Knights' scoring onslaught continued with 3:03 left in the first half
when Bortles found Hall for an 18-yard passing strike to make it 28-0.
With just 41 seconds remaining before the break, Akron tried to run out the
clock deep in its own territory, but another fumble gave the ball back to
the Knights. Once again, Johnson took advantage of a very short field,
rushing in for a three-yard score to extend the lead to 35-0 at the half.
Akron started the second half with the ball and proceeded to drive 80
yards down the field. A much-needed 13-yard touchdown pass from Williams
to Smith put the Zips on the scoreboard, 35-7.
Another Bortles-to-Hall touchdown connection - this time for 56 yards - made
the score 42-7 with 5:28 left in the third quarter.
Backup quarterback Tyler Gabbert spelled Bortles late in the third quarter,
and his first career pass was a 12-yard touchdown strike to Rob Calabrese to
give UCF a 49-7 lead.
With 9:01 left in the game, Suel was on the receiving end of Williams'
second touchdown pass, bringing the score to 49-14.
UCF added one more score at the 1:18 mark on a Cedric Thompson four-yard
touchdown run.
Though Akron committed just three penalties on the night, it turned the ball
over four times and rushed for just 69 yards.
The outcome marks the first time UCF has ever defeated the Zips in Akron.
GAME NOTES:
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