The UCF Knights are 11-0 all-time in the AAC and despite early losses in their non-conference games to start this season, they are riding a five-game winning streak (5-2, 3-0) and have a legitimate chance at going undefeated the rest of the way.
The Knights may find the wind at their backs over the next month. If UCF is able to secure wins on the road for four straight weeks against mostly division cellar dwellers, the AAC crown is likely to come down to the final game of the season when they travel to East Carolina to take on the Pirates Dec. 4. ECU has had to work harder than expected in its last two victories over outclassed opponents in USF two weeks ago and UConn last week and may be vulnerable to an improving Knights squad come season’s end.
UCF squeezed out close victories over Houston, BYU and Tulane, in which the offense struggled to find its footing but was bailed out by a stingy defense. UCF put it all together on both sides of the ball last week in a near flawless 34-14 victory at home over the Temple Owls.
Led by sophomore signal-caller Justin Holman, the Knights’ offense had its best game of the season against Temple, amassing 466 yards of offense and Holman threw for a career-high of 336 yards.
Holman’s maturation has been on display for all to see. His poor decision-making early in the season halted drives, stalled momentum, and put too much pressure on the Knights’ defense to stop drives and win games. Holman’s strong arm and athleticism, however, has played key roles in the Knights’ success in recent games. He has recorded a touchdown pass in all seven games this year and has 11 on the season.
For a young player learning on the job, Holman will need to be challenged to prevent complacency. He should acquire valuable experience playing on the road each of the next four weeks prior to the season-ending showdown with ECU. If he continues to take forward steps, there’s no telling how good Holman can be by the end of the season. The Knights will need him at his seasoned best on the road against the Pirates.
Sophomore running back William Stanback is also finding a rhythm. After rushing for less than 50 yards in four of six games, he posted 104 yards vs. Bethune-Cookman and 94 against Temple on a career-high 27 carries.
Head coach George O’Leary’s stout defense also showed up in force against Temple, allowing just 182 total yards of offense and causing four turnovers last week, a season high.
“Effort and being in the right place, coaching wise, where they’re supposed to be,” O’Leary said of UCF’s stingy defense. “I think the big thing is they’re playing well together. No one is trying to do something they’re not supposed to do. They just do their job. I think that’s what makes them solid down there.”
The Knights’ defense is among the best in the country and is ranked 10th nationally in yards allowed among FBS teams, just one spot below the SEC’s Ole Miss. They are 11th in interceptions and 14th in scoring defense. The Knights are also first in the AAC in total defense and fourth in the country on fourth downs; opponents are just 2-for-12 (17 percent) this season.
The defense is playing at a high level and promises to keep the Knights in games the rest of the way. O’Leary is justifiably proud of the unit as a whole.
“…Collectively, they play very well together,” O’Leary told the Orlando Sentinel. “They really enjoy playing football. I enjoy them. On the field, you see them celebrating with each other and not running to a corner and looking at the stands. They celebrate with each other and they’re great teammates. That’s how I see it.
“I’m happy that’s the way they’re doing things,” he added. “They enjoy the game, they really do. They can’t wait to get on the field. They don’t care where the ball is, ‘Let’s go play. Put the ball down and let’s go.'”
Edited By: Ali Balchunas
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