The UCF Knights (10-0; 7-0 AAC) crushed the Owls of Temple (5-6; 3-4 AAC) on Saturday in Philadelphia, marking their 10th win in an undefeated season. The AAC recaps the win:
PHILADELPHIA — McKenzie Milton threw four touchdown passes and ran for a score as No. 14/12 UCF took care of business against Temple, winning 45-19 Saturday to stay unbeaten heading into a showdown with rival USF. The Knights (10-0, 7-0 American Athletic conference, CFP No. 15) turned three Temple turnovers inside the Owls’ 25 into 17 first-half points, taking a 31-10 lead when Gabriel Davis stretched across the goal line for a 5-yard touchdown reception with 2:36 left in the second quarter.
The American’s East Division will be decided on Black Friday in Orlando, Florida, when No. 23/20 USF (9-1, 6-1) visits UCF. Temple (5-6, 3-4) could have been easy to overlook for the Knights. The game had no bearing on whether they play for a conference title and a loss probably wouldn’t have damaged their chances to play in a New Year’s Six bowl. Shaquem Griffin, the 2016 American defensive player of the year whose left hand was amputated when he was 4, was all over the field for the UCF defense.
He forced a fumble in the first half that set up a score and made his second career interception in the second half, running step-for-step down field with a receiver and cradling the ball into his chest. Frank Nutile, who helped revive Temple’s offense when he took over at quarterback four games ago, was picked off four times. UCF now faces what could be its toughest battle of the season against rival USF, who comes to Spectrum Stadium on Black Friday to face the Knights. That game will be nationally-televised on ABC with a kickoff set for 3:30pm. If the Knights win, they’ll take on the #22 Memphis Tigers (9-1; 6-1 AAC) for the second time this season in the American Athletics Conference Championship Game on 12/2. UCF defeated Memphis earlier in the season 40-13. Check out video highlights of UCF’s win over Temple, courtesy of the American Athletics Association, below:
Photo Courtesy American Athletic Conference.