UCF Dominates New Hampshire In Home Opener 57-3

The UCF Knights kicked off their 2024 football season Thursday night at FBC Mortgage Stadium against the New Hampshire Wildcats. Aside from the mark of college football season being back, the contest would be the first real look at a few highly anticipated components of this season’s Knights team – a new starting QB with Arkansas transfer KJ Jefferson, a strengthened defense, the return of their very impressive running game, and a bounce back in their special team units.

The Knights did not waste anytime in showing their explosive capabilities when returner Xavier Townsend took the opening kickoff back 25 yards and followed by an opening drive running play of RJ Harvey adding another 25 yards. UCF continued to showcase the run game with 5th year senior, Johnny Richardson and tansfer RB Myles Montgomery adding runs of 6, 12, and 7 yards. The Knights drive to the end zone stifled with a couple of short gains and incomplete passes. UCF would cash in for the first points of the game when kicker Colton Boomer made a 25 yard field goal.

The first offensive play for New Hampshire’s opening drive gave insight to UCF’s defensive capability when defensive back Braeden Marshall made a big tackle for a 6 yard loss on a pass play from Wildcats QB, Seth Morgan to receiver Joey Corcoran. The Knights would hold New Hampshire to 3 and out forcing a punt. UCF’s Xavier Townsend would get another respectable return for the Knights, this time for 26 yards.

The Knights second drive ended the same as the first with Colton Boomer connecting for a 44 yard field goal to put the Knights up 6-0. The score would remain the same for the remainder of the 1st quarter.

The Knights defense raised the energy of the stadium quickly to start the second quarter. On the first play of the quarter, UCF linebacker Deshawn Pace ignited the crowd when he intercepted Seth Morgan’s pass across the middle at the 40 yard line and returned it 37 yards to the New Hampshire 3 yard line. On the next play, KJ Jefferson punched it in to the endzone with the QB keeper to give the Knights their first touchdown of the game and 13-0 lead.

The UCF defense flexed their might again on the ensuing New Hampshire drive forcing another 3 and out deep on the Wildcats side of the field. On the New Hampshire punt, UCF defensive back Ladarius Tennison took the fans to an even higher energy when he blocked the Sean Lehane kick resulting in a safety and boosting the Knights lead to 15-0.

Later in the quarter, UCF’s RJ Harvey broke free for a 60 yard run before being brought down just 1 yard short of the goal line. Harvey would walk in on the next play for the touchdown and Boomer added the point after to extend the Knights lead to 22-0.

New Hampshire would get their first and only points of the game on their next drive when kicker Nick Mazzie connected from 38 yards to cut the lead 22-3.

In their final possession of the first half, UCF put together an impressive 4 play 80 yard touchdown drive spanning only 45 seconds. The highlight of the drive came from an acrobatic 46 yard reception by wide receiver Kobe Hudson. KJ Jefferson followed it with a 13 yard scramble. RJ Harvey then matched the distance for his second touchdown and gave the Knights a 29-3 halftime lead.

After being intercepted in their first series of the second half, KJ Jefferson responded with a 88 yard drive capped off with a 49 yard touchdown completion to RB Myles Montgomery. Knights lead 36-3.

The Knights would score on their next 3 possessions of the 3rd quarter. The first from a 70 yard 3 play drive, all of which included running back Penny Boone capped with a 59 yard touchdown. The second from a 4 play drive ending with a 22 yard touchdown completion to running back Johnny Richardson. The third and what turned out to be the final score of the game, resulted after being set up with great field possession from an interception by UCF defensive back Antione Jackson at the New Hampshire 29 yard line. Two plays later, Myles Montgomery ran it in for a 22 yard touchdown and a 57-3 lead.

The fourth quarter was uneventful on the scoreboard and the game closed with a 57-3 Knights win.

Keeping in mind that is just the first game of the season and it was against a FBS program, overall UCF answered a lot of questions about their team for their fans except at the quarterback position.

KJ Jefferson looked rusty and out of rhythm for the first quarter. It was obvious that Head Coach Gus Malzahn planned to ease Jefferson into the offense flow. It is expected since Jefferson has an entirely new team and playbook and also had not gone “live” since he left Arkansas to join the Knights. However, Jefferson did seem to get more comfortable as the game progressed.

The defense definitely looks bigger, faster, deeper, and more aggressive. They held New Hampshire’s offense to just 162 total yards with just 67 yards on the ground, while also chalking up 2 interceptions.

The Knights running game exceeded most expectations from their run game by putting up 454 yards rushing with RJ Harvey going for 142 yards 2 touchdowns. New transfer additions Peny Boone and Myles Montgomery rushed for 81 and 77 yards respectfully with both finding the end zone by ground.

Every special teams unit looked good. Kicker Colton Boomer looked back in form after struggling some last season while playing thru an injury. Boomer was perfect on every attempt and his 44 yard field goal looked as though it would have hit from 60 yards out. Return specialist Xavier Townsend is just that – a specialist. He chalked up 170 total return yards and he looked really close to breaking one loose for the distance. The defensive special teams group put continuous pressure on the punter and succeed getting a punt block for a safety. UCF punter Mitch McCarthy did his part pinning New Hampshire back inside the 20 yard line on both attempts.

Up Next:

UCF: Hosts Sam Houston on Saturday, September 7 at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, FL with kickoff at 6:30 p.m.

New Hampshire: Travels to play Holy Cross on Saturday, September 7 at 2 p.m.

GAME STATISTICS

Attendance: 44,206

UCF Offense: 639 yards of total offense, 27 first downs, 3rd down conversions 4/12, time of possession 29:33

New Hampshire: 162 total yards of offense, 9 first downs, 3rd down conversions 2/15, time of possession 30:27

Rushing Offensive Stats:

UCF: 454 yards rushing.

RJ Harvey: 11/142 yards 2 TD with long 60yds

P. Boone: 7/81yds 1 TD with long 59yds

M. Montgomery: 8/77yds 1 TD