Zips Fall 56-14 in Season Opener to Central Florida

Thursday, August 30

7 pm

University of Akron

UCF

Zips Fall 56-14 in Season Opener to Central Florida

August 30 | Football

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AKRON, Ohio – Central Florida built a 35-0 halftime lead and defeated Akron 56-14 in the season opener and first game for new Zips head coach Terry Bowden on Thursday night at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field.

Senior quarterback Dalton Williams, also in his first game as a Zip, led the way offensively for Akron (0-1), completing 30-of-50 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Sophomore wide receiver L.T. Smith caught six passes for 87 yards and one touchdown for UA, including the first touchdown of the season and of Bowden's tenure with the Zips.

The score came on a 10-play, 80-yard drive to begin the second half. A 37-yard pass from Williams to Smith set the Zips up at the UCF 13 and on the next play, Williams found Smith again for a 13-yard touchdown strike as Smith reached around UCF defensive back Jordan Ozerities to complete an acrobatic catch in the right corner of the end zone and make the score 35-7.

UA followed its first score by forcing a UCF turnover as senior defensive tackle Nico Caponi latched on to quarterback Blake Bortles' legs and forced a hurried pass into the right flat that sophomore linebacker Justin March made a diving interception on.

UCF (1-0), however, responded as Bortles (13-of-16, 168 yards, 3 TDs) found Rannell Hall on a slant route that went for a 56-yard touchdown catch with 5:28 left in the third quarter. A fumble by freshman Conor Hundley on a short run gave the ball back to UCF and a 12-yard touchdown pass from UCF backup quarterback Tyler Gabbert to Rob Calabrese gave the Knights a 49-7 cushion.

Akron added a second touchdown in the fourth quarter when Williams found senior Marquelo Suel in the back of endzone from 16 yards out, capping an 11-play, 61-yard drive.

The game began as the Knights received the opening kickoff and marched 73 yards in eight plays, six of them rushes, for a touchdown 3:54 into the contest. Bortles connected on a 5-yard touchdown pass to Chris Martin and Shawn Moffitt converted the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

The Zips had an opportunity to counter after their defense held UCF deep in its own territory and forced a punt that junior Dee Frieson fielded at the Akron 46. A 32-yard pass from Williams to junior Keith Sconiers put the Zips on the UCF 22, but the drive stalled at the UCF 18 and a 35-yard field goal attempt by freshman Robert Stein struck the left upright and dropped to the turf to keep the score 7-0 in favor of the visitors.

UCF doubled its lead on a drive than spanned the first and second quarters, moving 80 yards on 10 plays in 4:55 and ending the march with a 2-yard touchdown run by Latavius Murray.

A miscue by Frieson on a punt midway through the second quarter set the Knights up with another good scoring opportunity. Frieson fumbled a high, hanging punt by Jamie Boyle and Kemal Ishmael recovered the football at the Akron 12. Three plays later, Storm Johnson bulled his way into the end zone from three yards out for UCF's third touchdown and a 21-0 lead.

Akron sought to move the ball mainly through the air in the first half, with Williams attempting 22 passes and completing 12 for 113 yards.

Bortles added to UCF's first-half scoring burst with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Hall (four catches for 94 yards and 2 TDs) with 3:03 left in the second quarter. Malachi Freeman made a play on the ball, but Hall snared it first and regained his balance in time to sprint into the end zone for the score.

It appeared the Zips would run out the clock to end the half, but Jawon Chisholm fumbled on a carry at the Akron 5-yard line and UFC recovered with 0:24 left on the clock. Another three-yard touchdown run by Johnson pushed the Knights' halftime lead to 35-0.

The Zip defense was led by redshirt freshman defensive tackle Cody Grice with eight tackles. Freeman added seven stops and senior linebacker Troy Gilmer had six tackles, including two for losses.