2016 UCF Knights football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 2016 UCF Knights football UCF Knights logo.svg 115px American Athletic Conference East Division The American 6–7 4–4 Scott Frost 1st Troy Walters 1st Erik Chinander 1st No-huddle spread option 3–4 Bright House Networks Stadium Cure Bowl L Lost 13–31 vs. Arkansas State The 2016 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Knights were members of the East Division of the American Athletic Conference (The American) and played their home games at Bright House Networks Stadium on UCF's main campus in Orlando, Florida. They were led by first-year head coach Scott Frost. They finished the regular season 6–6, 4–4 in American Athletic Conference play, finishing in third place in the East Division. They were invited to the Cure Bowl, where they lost to Arkansas State. This was the second season where UCF would be bowl eligible just one year after going winless. The 2016 season served as a transition between the winless 2015 season and the undefeated season one year later in 2017. Personnel Coaching staff 2016 UCF Knights coaching staffHead coaches Head coach – Scott Frost Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator/wide receivers – Troy Walters Quarterbacks – Mario Verduzco Running backs – Ryan Held Offensive line – Greg Austin Tight ends – Sean Beckton Graduate assistants – Kenny Bassett and Dustin Haines Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Erik Chinander Linebackers – Jovan Dewitt Defensive backs – Travis Fisher Defensive line – Mike Dawson Graduate assistants – Jack Cooper and Zach Crespo Special teams Special teams coordinator – Jovan Dewitt Administrative staff Athletic Director (A.D.) – Danny White (athletic director) Assistant director of player personnel – Ryan Callaghan Director of football operations – Gerrod Lambrecht Director of player development – Marcus Castro-Walker Director of player personnel – Sean Dillon Director of strength and conditioning – Zach Duval Quality control administrators – Barrett Ruud and Kevin Smith (running back) Recruiting coordinator – Sean Beckton Senior administrative assistant – Megan Taylor Schedule 2016 AP Eastern September 3 7:00 p.m. w y South Carolina State (FCS) Bright House Networks Stadium Orlando, FL ESPN3 38–0 36,260 September 10 Noon l y y Michigan 5 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI ABC 14–51 109,295 September 17 7:00 p.m. l y Maryland Bright House Networks Stadium Orlando, FL CBSSN 24–30 2OT 43,197 September 24 7:00 p.m. w y y FIU FIU Stadium Miami, FL beIN 53–14 18,524 October 1 Noon w y East Carolina Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium Greenville, NC CBSSN 47–29 46,042 October 15 7:30 p.m. l y Temple Bright House Networks Stadium Orlando, FL ESPNU 25–26 38,299 October 22 Noon w y UConn Rentschler Field East Hartford, CT Civil Conflict ESPNews 24–16 28,008 October 29 11:00 a.m. l y Houston TDECU Stadium Houston, TX ESPNU 24–31 35,846 November 5Moved [a] 5:00 p.m. w Tulane Bright House Networks Stadium Orlando, FL ESPN3 37–6 31,571 November 12 Noon w Cincinnati rivalry Bright House Networks Stadium Orlando, FL ESPNU 24–3 30,346 November 19 8:00 p.m. l Tulsa Bright House Networks Stadium Orlando, FL ESPNews 20–35 35,141 November 26 Noon l y South Florida War on I–4 Raymond James Stadium Tampa, FL CBSSN 31–48 36,056 December 17 5:00 p.m. l y y Arkansas State Cure Bowl Camping World Stadium Orlando, FL CBSSN 13–31 27,213 Moved [a]The game between UCF and Tulane was originally scheduled for October 7, 2016, but was postponed due to the effects of Hurricane Matthew.http://www.orlandosentinel.com/weather/hurricane/os-ucf-tulane-football-game-moved-20161004-story.html Hurricane Matthew forces UCF to postpone Tulane game Shannon Green Source:2016 UCF Knights Football Schedule http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-16/2016-ucf-knights-football-schedule.php FB Schedules February 19, 2016 Game summaries South Carolina State 2016 South Carolina State Bulldogs football team UCF Knights ;text-align:center; autocollapse South Carolina State Bulldogs at UCF Knights− Game summary September 3, 2016 7:04 p.m. EST Bulldogs 0 0 0 0 Knights 6 12 13 7 Bright House Networks Stadium • Orlando, FL 36,260 Temperature: 86° • Wind: SW 8 mph • Weather: Partly Cloudy Anthony Calabrese ESPN3 Drew Fellios, Doug Graber Sources:http://ucfknights.com/boxscore.aspx?id=1651&path=football SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (0–1) -VS- UCF (1–0) September 9, 2016 September 9, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160909203805/http://www.ucfknights.com/boxscore.aspx?id=1651&path=football dead First Quarter UCF – 11:19 Matthew Wright 46 yd field goal (UCF 3–0) UCF – 03:42 Matthew Wright 34 yd field goal (UCF 6–0) Second Quarter UCF – 12:48 Matthew Wright 45 yd field goal (UCF 9–0) UCF – 10:07 Matthew Wright 37 yd field goal (UCF 12–0) UCF – 01:45 Justin Holman 10 yd run; Nick Patti 2-pt conversion failed (UCF 18–0) Third Quarter UCF – 04:55 Dontravious Wilson 1 yd run; Matthew Wright XP good (UCF 25–0) UCF – 00:50 Tre'Quan Smith 37 yd pass from Justin Holman; Nick Patti XP no good (UCF 31–0) Fourth Quarter UCF – 12:18 Triston Payton 5 yd pass from Justin Holman; Matthew Wright XP good (UCF 38–0) Top Passers UCF – Justin Holman 14–28, 193 yds, 2 TD SCSU – Caleb York 15–35, 134 yds, 1 INT Top Rushers UCF – Jawon Hamilton 14 carries, 55 yds SCSU – Caleb York 10 carries, 45 yds Top Receiving UCF – Tre'Quan Smith 4 receptions, 65 yds, 1 TD SCSU – Kanome McIntosh 4 receptions, 37 yds In Scott Frost's first game as head coach of UCF, the Knights broke a 13-game losing streak with their first win since December 4, 2014 at East Carolina. The Knights dominated defensively, recording their first shut out since November 28, 2014 at USF, and their first home shutout since October 29, 2011 vs Memphis. The Knights also forced 3 turnovers, including two fumbles and an interception by Shaquill Griffin. Additionally, the four field goals scored by Matthew Wright are the best of his career. Offensively, the 38 points scored by UCF are the most since November 22, 2014. UCF has also recorded two rushing touchdowns for the first time since 2014, one by Justin Holman and one by Dontravious Wilson. Justin Holman had a slow first half only finishing 6-of-17 passes, but after a strong second half performance of 8-of-11 passes, Holman finished 14–28 for 193 yards and 2 touchdowns, and rushing for 40 yards and a touchdown. Tre'Quan Smith and Tristan Payton have also scored touchdowns. At Michigan 2016 Michigan Wolverines football team UCF Knights ;text-align:center; autocollapse UCF Knights at #5 Michigan Wolverines − Game summary September 10, 2016 12:06 p.m. EST Knights 0 7 7 0 Wolverines 21 13 10 7 Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI 109,295 Temperature: 74° • Wind: SW 15–25 mph • Weather: Cloudy with Rain John O'Neill ABC Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Todd McShay Sources:http://ucfknights.com/boxscore.aspx?id=1652&path=football UCF (1–1) -VS- MICHIGAN (2–0) September 13, 2016 September 17, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160917023648/http://www.ucfknights.com/boxscore.aspx?id=1652&path=football dead First Quarter MICH – 08:48 Jake Butt 3 yd pass from Wilton Speight; Kenny Allen XP Good (MICH 7–0) MICH – 03:29 Khalid Hill 2 yd run; Kenny Allen XP Good (MICH 14–0) MICH – 01:55 Amara Darboh 45 yd pass from Wilton Speight; Kenny Allen XP Good (MICH 21–0) Second Quarter MICH – 14:17 Kenny Allen 24 yd field goal (MICH 24–0) MICH – 11:30 Jake Butt 14 yd pass from Wilton Speight; Kenny Allen XP Good (MICH 31–0) UCF – 11:10 Adrian Killins 87 yd run; Matthew Wright XP Good (MICH 31–7) MICH – 06:07 Kenny Allen 36 yd field goal (MICH 34–7) Third Quarter MICH – 11:47 Khalid Hill 1 yd run; Kenny Allen XP good (MICH 41–7) MICH – 09:44 Kenny Allen 37 yd field goal (MICH 44–7) UCF – 08:03 Dontravious Wilson 34 yd run ; Matthew Wright XP Good (MICH 44–14) Fourth Quarter MICH – 10:24 Amara Darboh 30 yd pass from Wilton Speight; Ryan Tice XP good (MICH 51–14) Top Passers UCF – Nick Patti 3–11, 37 yds MICH – Wilton Speight 25–37, 312 yds, 4 TD Top Rushers UCF – Dontravious Wilson 17 carries, 83 yds, 1 TD MICH – De'Veon Smith 10 carries, 41 yds Top Receiving UCF – Taylor Oldham 3 receptions, 29 yds MICH – Amara Darboh 5 receptions, 111 yds, 2 TD In a game plagued with special team and quarterback problems, Michigan took an early 31–0 lead into the second quarter. Justin Holman struggled tremendously in the passing game, only completing 3 of his 11 passes for just 19 yards, and fumbled the ball. After Holman went down with an injury just before halftime, Nick Patti came in, also going 3-for-11 for 37 yards. Additionally, Michigan blocked two punts and a field goal attempt in the first quarter. Despite the trouble, there were some bright spots, mainly in the running game. UCF outrushed the Wolverines 275–119 yards, including an 87-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter by Adrian Killins, UCF's longest rushing touchdown since November 3, 2007 against Marshall. Additionally, Dontravious Wilson scored a 34-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter. Maryland 2016 Maryland Terrapins football team UCF Knights ;text-align:center; autocollapse Maryland Terrapins at UCF Knights – Game summary September 17, 2016 7:00 p.m. EST Terrapins 0 10 7 0 7 6 Knights 7 0 7 3 7 0 Bright House Networks Stadium • Orlando, FL 43,197 Temperature: 85° • Wind: E-NE 9 mph • Weather: Partly Cloudy Jerry McGinn CBSSN Dave Ryan (play-by-play), Corey Chavous (color), and Melanie Collins (sideline) Sources:http://ucfknights.com/boxscore.aspx?id=1653&path=football MARYLAND (3–0) -VS- UCF (1–2) September 20, 2016 October 13, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161013134121/http://ucfknights.com/boxscore.aspx?id=1653&path=football dead First Quarter UCF – 00:24 Dontravious Wilson 4 yd pass from McKenzie Milton; Matthew Wright XP Good (UCF 7–0) Second Quarter MARY – 10:04 Lorenzo Harrison 7 yd run; Adam Greene XP Good (TIE 7–7) MARY – 00:00 Adam Greene 33 yd field goal (MARY 10–7) Third Quarter UCF – 03:40 McKenzie Milton 7 yd run; Matthew Wright XP Good (UCF 14–10) MARY – 00:41 Kenneth Goins Jr 16 yd run; Adam Greene XP Good (MARY 17–14) Fourth Quarter UCF – 12:04 Matthew Wright 42 yd field goal (TIE 17–17) Overtime MARY – Perry Hills 5 yd run; Adam Greene XP Good (MARY 24–17) UCF – Tre'Quan Smith 31 yd pass from McKenzie Milton; Matthew Wright XP Good (TIE 24–24) Double-Overtime MARY – Tyrrell Pigrome 24 yd run (MARY 30–24) Top Passers UCF – McKenzie Milton 21–36, 260 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT MARY – Perry Hills 10–23, 127 yds Top Rushers UCF – Jawon Hamilton 12 carries, 65 yds MARY – Lorenzo Harrison 15 carries, 77 yds, 1 TD Top Receiving UCF – Tre'Quan Smith 8 receptions, 114 yds, 1 TD MARY – Teldrick Morgan 2 receptions, 64 yds This game was the first start for McKenzie Milton as quarterback for UCF. Milton finished with 21-for-36 for 260 yards and 1 interception leading UCF to their first overtime game since October 9, 2014 vs BYU as well as their first double-overtime game since October 13, 2012 vs Southern Miss. Some of his key plays were a 31-yard touchdown pass to Tre'Quan Smith to force double-overtime, as well as a 7-yard quarterback keeper that gave UCF a 14–10 lead in the third quarter. Unfortunately, Milton's turnovers were costly as he fumbled the ball in double-overtime with what seemed to be an incomplete pass, but the officials ruled it as a fumble and the Knights lost in a heartbreaker. Additionally, this was also the highest attendance in Bright House Networks Stadium since September 20, 2014 vs Bethune-Cookman. At FIU 2016 FIU Panthers football team UCF Knights ;text-align:center; autocollapse UCF Knights at FIU Panthers – Game summary September 24, 2016 7:00 p.m. EST Knights 15 17 14 7 Panthers 7 0 0 7 FIU Stadium • Miami, FL 18,524 Temperature: 80 °F °C on • Wind: 4 • Weather: Showers Adam Savoie beIN Matt Martucci, Brett Romberg, Jordan Daigle Sources:UCFKnights.comhttp://ucfknights.com/boxscore.aspx?id=1654&path=football UCF 53, FIU 14 UCFKnights.com September 24, 2016 September 29, 2016 October 2, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161002120535/http://ucfknights.com/boxscore.aspx?id=1654&path=football dead FIUsports.comhttp://www.fiusports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=3960 UCF 53, FIU 14 FIU Sports September 24, 2016 September 29, 2016 First Quarter UCF 12:05 Dontravious Wilson 1 yd run; 2 pt conversion good (UCF 8–0) FIU 05:27 Anthoney Jones 6 yd run; Austin Taylor XP good (UCF 8–7) UCF 02:47 Jordan Akins 21 yd pass from McKenzie Milton; Matthew Wright XP good (UCF 15–7) Second Quarter UCF 10:42 Matthew Wright 20 yd field goal (UCF 18–7) UCF 08:50 Dontravious Wilson 15 yd run; Matthew Wright XP good (UCF 25–7) UCF 03:36 Dontravious Wilson 12 yd run; Matthew Wright XP good (UCF 32–7) Third Quarter UCF 08:04 Adrian Killins 61 yd run; Matthew Wright XP good (UCF 39–7) UCF 04:49 C.J. Jones 1 yd run; Matthew Wright XP good (UCF 46–7) Fourth Quarter UCF 13:23 Nick Patti 9 yd run; Matthew Wright XP good (UCF 53–7) FIU 10:30 Stantly Thomas 17 yd pass from Alex McGough; Austin Taylor XP good (UCF 53–14) Top Passers UCF – McKenzie Milton 8/14, 173 yds, 1 TD FIU – Alex McGough 5/9, 68 yds, 1 TD Top Rushers UCF – Dontravious Wilson 11 attempts, 60 yds, 3 TD FIU – Anthony Jones 8 attempts, 36 yds, 1 TD Top Receiving UCF – Jordan Akins 3 receptions, 45 yds, 1 TD FIU – Thomas Owens 2 receptions, 42 yds Top Tacklers UCF – Shaquill Griffin 5 tackles FIU – Treyvon Williams 13 tackles In McKenzie Milton's second start as UCF's quarterback, the Knights returned to the win column with their highest scoring game since November 22, 2014 against SMU and the most in an away game since October 27, 2012. UCF would score on their first drive with a run from Dontravious Wilson, and would complete a 2-point conversion to Jordan Franks, going up 8–0. FIU would then score next to make it 8–7. That would be the last time FIU scored until the fourth as the Knights would counter with a 45–0 run by just into the fourth quarter, which included 2 more rushing touchdowns from Wilson, his career high, a 21-yard touchdown pass caught by Jordan Akins, and a 61-yard run by Adrian Killins. The 3 rushing touchdowns by Wilson are also the most by a UCF player since Storm Johnson's Fiesta Bowl game. UCF would also record 501 yards of offense, the most since November 14, 2014 against Tulsa, and 6 rushing touchdowns, the most since September 3, 2011 against Charleston Southern. Additionally, the defense, while only recording one turnover, an interception by Drico Johnson, stepped up against FIU, with Shaquem Griffin recording a career-high 2 sacks in the game. At East Carolina 2016 East Carolina Pirates football team UCF Knights ;text-align:center; autocollapse UCF Knights at East Carolina Pirates – Game summary October 1, 2016 Noon EST Knights 0 16 7 24 Pirates 0 7 14 8 Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NC 46,042 CBSSN Dave Ryan (play-by-play), Corey Chavous (color), and Melanie Collins (sideline) Second quarter ECU – 11:33 Deondre Farrier 16 yd pass from Philip Nelson; Joshon Perry XP good (ECU 7–0) UCF – 11:21 Adrian Killins 100 yd kick return; Matthew Wright XP good (TIE 7–7) UCF – 04:18 Devin Anderson Safety by Mark Rucker (UCF 9–7) UCF – 03:22 Dontravious Wilson 35 yd run; Matthew Wright XP good (UCF 16–7) Third quarter UCF – 12:30 Jawon Hamilton 2 yd run; Matthew Wright XP good (UCF 23–7) ECU – 04:23 Zay Jones 9 yd pass from Philip Nelson; Joshon Perry XP good (UCF 23–14) ECU – 00:13 Quay Johnson 75 yd pass from Gardner Minshew; Jake Verity XP good (UCF 23–21) Fourth quarter UCF – 14:20 Dontravious Wilson 14 yd run; Matthew Wright XP good (UCF 30–21) UCF – 14:05 Brendon Hayes 4 yd interception return; Matthew Wright XP good (UCF 37–21) UCF – 03:48 Matthew Wright 19 yd field goal (UCF 40–21) ECU – 01:14 Devin Anderson 1 yd run; 2 pt conversion good (UCF 40–29) UCF – 00:54 Taj McGowan 47 yd run; Matthew Wright XP good (UCF 47–29) Top passers UCF – Justin Holman 11–29, 156 yds, 2 INT ECU – Philip Nelson 26–43, 296 yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT Top rushers UCF – Dontravious Wilson 11 carries, 74 yds, 2 TD ECU – Philip Nelson 10 carries, 15 yds Top receivers UCF – Jordan Franks 2 receptions, 73 yds ECU – Jimmy Williams 7 receptions, 145 yds With McKenzie Milton down with an injury, Justin Holman returned as the starting quarterback for this game. After a scoreless first quarter, ECU scored first to go up 7–0. That was the last lead the Pirates had as UCF immediately countered with a 100-yard kickoff return by Adrian Killins, the fourth player in UCF history to do so. After taking a 16–7 halftime lead, UCF scored again to make it 23–7. The Pirates came back by the end of the third, cutting the lead to 23–21, one of their touchdowns coming off a Justin Holman interception. UCF then responded with a Dontravious Wilson TD as well as a pick six by Brendon Hayes in less than 20 seconds and the Pirates would never come close again. While Holman did struggle, only going 11–29 and throwing 2 interceptions, the running game was strong with 217 yards, including a 35-yard TD run by Dontravious Wilson, his career long, as well as Jawon Hamilton's first career touchdown and a career-long 47-yard run by Taj McGowan. The defense made the biggest difference, with three interceptions, two fumbles, as well as recording a safety and a pick six by Brendon Hayes. This was UCF's first conference win since December 4, 2014, their last road meeting against East Carolina, as well as Scott Frost's first conference win as head coach. This is also the first time the Knights scored touchdowns on offense, defense, and special teams since November 20, 2010, against Tulane. Now UCF is down 10–5 in the all-time series versus East Carolina, with the Knights winning 4 of their last 6 games, including their last two match-ups in Greenville. Temple 2016 Temple Owls football team UCF Knights ;text-align:center; autocollapse Temple Owls at UCF Knights – Game summary October 15, 2016 7:30 p.m. EST Owls 7 7 6 6 Knights 11 14 0 0 Bright House Networks Stadium • Orlando, FL ESPNU Dave LaMont, Rene Ingoglia UCF would get off to a great offensive start, taking an early 25–7 lead. Tre'Quan Smith would catch a 55-yard Touchdown pass just over a minute in the game, Adrian Killins would catch a 16-yard Touchdown pass, and McKenzie Milton would run 63 yards for a touchdown. From there, UCF would struggle for the rest of the game as Temple's defense would keep the Knights scoreless for the rest of the game. Temple would score a touchdown before halftime cutting UCF's lead to 25–14. UCF would keep their lead until one second left in the 4th quarter when Temple scored a game-winning touchdown to take a 26–25 lead. Temple would stop Adrian Killins in the following kickoff, sealing their win. At UConn 2016 UConn Huskies football team Civil Conflict (college football game) UCF Knights ;text-align:center; autocollapse UCF Knights at UConn Huskies – Game summary October 22, 2016 Noon EST Knights 0 14 7 3 Huskies 6 10 0 0 Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field • East Hartford, CT ESPNews Mike Corey, Rene Ingoglia UCF would start off slow as they would allow UCONN an early 13–0 lead, with two field goals and a touchdown. Afterwards with 6:50 left in the 2nd quarter, McKenzie Milton would connect for 22 yards with Dredrick Snelson for his first career TD, cutting the lead to 13–7. The defense would hold UCONN to another field goal before McKenzie Milton connected with Jordan Akins for a 19-yard TD with one second left before halftime, cutting UCONN's lead to 16–14. Coming out from halftime, UCF would score on their first drive with a 39-yard TD pass to Adrian Killins, taking the lead for the first time in the game. From there, the defense would shut out UCONN and Matthew Wright would score a 50-yard field goal, his career long. UCONN's last drive would end at the UCF 21 yard line where the defense forces a turnover on downs with 1:38 left. This would be UCF's first win over UCONN since 2013, as well as their first at East Hartford. After the game, UCF did not accept the trophy for the Civil Conflict rivalry, or even acknowledge it, leaving the trophy at Rentschler Field. Additionally, McKenzie Milton threw for a season high 317 yards and three touchdowns and would go 29-for-45. At Houston 2016 Houston Cougars football team UCF Knights ;text-align:center; autocollapse UCF Knights at Houston Cougars – Game summary October 29, 2016 Noon EST Knights 7 14 3 0 Cougars 0 3 14 14 TDECU Stadium • Houston, TX 35,846 ESPNU Roy Philpott, Tom Ramsey, Dawn Davenport UCF would get off to another fast start, taking a 21–3 lead over the Cougars by halftime. Adrian Killins would score on a 6-yard run, Dontravious Wilson would score on a 1-yard run, and Jawon Hamilton would run for 28 yards for a TD before halftime. The defense would get 3 interceptions and hold Houston to only a field goal. Coming out of the half, UCF would force another turnover, a fumble, which would lead to UCF scoring a field goal, taking a 24–3 lead. From there, Houston would storm back and score 28 unanswered points to take a 31–24 lead and force four turnovers against UCF: two fumbles, one interception, and a turnover on downs. This is the second time this year that UCF would lose after taking a large lead. Tulane 2016 Tulane Green Wave football team UCF Knights ;text-align:center; autocollapse Tulane Green Wave at UCF Knights – Game summary November 5, 2016 5:00 pm EST Green Wave 6 0 0 0 Knights 0 7 13 17 Bright House Networks Stadium • Orlando, FL ESPN3 Alex Faust, Forrest Conoly The game, originally scheduled for a 7:30 pm kickoff on October 6 to be televised on ESPNU, was moved to November 5 due to Hurricane Matthew. The game was moved to November 5 because both teams, coincidentally, had scheduled bye weeks for that week.Green Shannon Hurricane Matthew forces UCF to postpone Tulane game http://www.orlandosentinel.com/weather/hurricane/os-ucf-tulane-football-game-moved-20161004-story.html 6 October 2016 OrlandoSentinel.com Orlando Sentinel UCF would start off with a fumble in the first play of the game, and Tulane would score a TD right after, with the Knights blocking the extra point. McKenzie Milton struggled throughout the game only completing 9 out of 20 of his passes and throwing an interception, however he did run for a 1-yd TD taking the lead, 7–6, with 7:39 left in the second quarter. The defense, however, is where the Knights thrived in this game. In the second half, the defense would completely pulverize the Green Wave, shutting them out. Additionally, UCF would score a school record three defensive TDs. First Drico Johnson would score on a 30-yard fumble return for a TD with 7:23 left in the third quarter. Then Shaquill Griffin would score a 33-yard interception return for a TD just a minute after. With 11:23 left in the fourth, Drico Johnson would score another pick six from 86 yards out. At the end of the game, Justin Holman would enter for the first time since East Carolina, and would add the exclamation point for UCF with an 80-yard drive capped off by a 1-yard TD run. Cincinnati 2016 Cincinnati Bearcats football team UCF Knights ;text-align:center; autocollapse Cincinnati Bearcats at UCF Knights – Game summary November 12, 2016 Noon EST Bearcats 0 3 0 0 Knights 10 0 7 7 Bright House Networks Stadium • Orlando, FL ESPNU Dave LaMont, Ahmad Brooks This is the second meeting between the UCF Knights and the Cincinnati Bearcats. Through yet another dominating defensive performance, UCF would win their 6th game, becoming bowl eligible after failing to win a single game last year. This is the second time in UCF history that the Knights would return to a bowl game after going winless the previous year, the other time being in 2005. The defense held Cincinnati to only a field goal and forced 5 turnovers from the Bearcats: a turnover on downs, two interceptions made by Seyvon Lowry and Brandon Scott, a fumble recovery by Shaquem Griffin, and, most notably, a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown by Justin McDonald. UCF would also score on offense with a 1-yard pass by McKenzie Milton to Dredrick Snelson and a 25-yard run by Jawon Hamilton. McKenzie Milton would finish the game 22-of-34 for 150 yards and a touchdown, while Jawon Hamilton led the team in rushing for 81 yards and a touchdown in 17 carries, and Tre'Quan Smith led the team in receptions catching 4 receptions for 38 yards. Tulsa 2016 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team UCF Knights ;text-align:center; autocollapse Tulsa Golden Hurricanes at UCF Knights – Game summary November 19, 2016 8:00 pm EST Golden Hurricane 7 7 21 0 Knights 8 6 0 6 Bright House Networks Stadium • Orlando, FL ESPNews Mike Corey, Rene Ingoglia UCF would start off the game on a high note with a pick six by DJ Killings with a 2-pt conversion. Tulsa would respond with 2 touchdowns, one of which they were able to convert from a fumble. UCF would fight back in the 2nd quarter to tie the game at the half, 14–14. In the second half, Tulsa would dominate, scoring 3 straight touchdowns, taking a 35–14 lead. UCF would score one more touchdown by Adrian Killins to make it 35–20. McKenzie Milton completed 25 of his 51 passes for 233 yards. UCF's rushing game struggled as Milton led the team with 12 carries for 37 yards. Tre'Quan Smith led the team in receptions with 5 catches for 71 yards. At South Florida 2016 South Florida Bulls football team South Florida–UCF football rivalry UCF Knights ;text-align:center; autocollapse UCF Knights at South Florida Bulls – Game summary November 26, 2016 Noon EST Knights 7 7 10 7 Bulls 14 10 7 17 Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, FL CBSSN Dave Ryan (play-by-play), Corey Chavous (color), and Melanie Collins (sideline) UCF would score first with a 3-yard run by Jawon Hamilton, but USF would respond with a 43-yard run by Marlon Mack for a touchdown. UCF would also fumble the ball afterwards with Juwuan Brown returning it for a touchdown. USF would lead 24–7 before UCF would respond with a 72-yard touchdown by Tre'Quan Smith in a trick play pass by Tristan Payton, making it 24–14 at the half. In the third quarter, Quinton Flowers would score a touchdown run from 62 yards, but UCF would fight back with a field goal and a touchdown by Taj McGowan, making it a one-possession game at the end of the third, 31–24. In the 4th quarter, however, any hope for a comeback would disintegrate as USF would score on a 24-yard run by Quinton Flowers as well as a field goal to make it 41–24. Milton who threw 2 interceptions in the game was later pulled out and Justin Holman played late in the 4th. He completed a 41-yard touchdown pass to Tre'Quan Smith. USF would score again with 11 seconds to go to make it 48–31. UCF gained 402 total yards and 22 first downs, but the Knights struggled with 3 turnovers. McKenzie Milton would lead the team in passing yards, completing 26 out of 42 of his passes for 225 yards, but throwing 2 interceptions. Jawon Hamilton would lead the team in rushing for 54 yards with 14 carries and a touchdown. Tre'Quan Smith led the team with in receiving yards with 7 receptions for 183 yards and 2 touchdowns. vs Arkansas State–Cure Bowl 2016 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team 2016 Cure Bowl UCF Knights ;text-align:center; autocollapse Cure Bowl – Game summary December 17, 2016 5:30 pm EST Knights 0 10 3 0 Red Wolves 17 0 7 7 Camping World Stadium • Orlando, FL CBSSN/Touchdown Radio Carter Blackburn, Aaron Taylor, Jenny Dell/Bernie Guenther, Gino Torretta, Jamie Seh In a game plagued by offensive and special teams struggles, UCF would be dominated by Arkansas State. Arkansas State would first score from a blocked punt return for a touchdown in the end zone. Arkansas State would lead by as much as 17–0 before UCF scored with 9:31 in the 2nd quarter by an 11-yard reception by Taylor Oldham, his first career touchdown. UCF would make it a one-possession game at the half, 17–10. Once again, UCF struggled in the second half and would be outscored 14–3. UCF's defense held Arkansas State to 8 first downs, but the offense was unable to capitalize on drives and special teams struggled tremendously with a blocked punt return for a touchdown. Additionally, special teams gave up 2 more turnovers, with a fumble from Hayden Jones on a kickoff return and a muffed punt by Chris Johnson. Each of these special teams struggles set up the Red Wolves with excellent field position where they scored 2 of their touchdowns. McKenzie Milton led the team with 22 of 39 passes complete for 175 yards and a touchdown. UCF's running game once again struggled with Jawon Hamilton leading with 10 carries for 14 yards. Taylor Oldham led the passing yards with 5 receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown. References UCF Category:UCF Knights football seasons UCF Knights football Category:2016 in Orlando, Florida