Ultimately, there was never any doubt.
UCF and its fans try to pretend there is no rivalry. They try to pretend that they’re too good to put any extra meaning into a game against UConn. They try to pretend it’s just another game on the schedule.
Well, maybe it is just another game on the schedule, because like their first five games, the Knights lost.
After four glorious quarters, UConn emerged with a 40-13 drubbing of UCF in the third ConFLiCT (ConFLiiiCT).
It was the Huskies’ largest margin of victory in the Bob Diaco era, their first road win in that time and their first conference victory of the season.
“We keep tapping at that rock and eventually it’s going to crack,” Diaco said after the game, dressed in a suit and looking marvelous despite having just been doused by Gatorade amid the celebration.
The biggest crack so far in Diaco’s time at the helm was sparked by defense, to little surprise. UCF kicked a field goal on its first drive but was kept off the board again until the fourth quarter as UConn scored 40 unanswered points. That included 21 off of UCF turnovers — two from interceptions in the second quarter and another from a fumble recovery in the third.
By that point, the game was in hand as the UCF fans cleared out of the stadium and the Huskies hoisted the ConFLiCT trophy.
There is no word yet on whether the Knights will be good sports and display nutmeg in their trophy room, as is rivalry tradition.
The Good:
- For the first time this year, good numbers on offense actually matched the scoreboard for the Huskies. UConn out-rushed UCF, 170-60 and accumulated 433 total yards to 315 for the Knights.
- As noted above, the Huskies’ offense was sparked by its defense. Overall, UCF threw three interceptions, each picked up by different Huskies.
- Arkeel Newsome had another strong game with 13 carries for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Ron Johnson and Max DeLorenzo also tallied double-digit yards on the ground.
- Bryant Shirreffs threw for 256 yards and ran for 42 more, all in three quarters. Tim Boyle relieved him in the fourth, completing both of his pass attempts.
- Alec Bloom and Noel Thomas continued to give Shirreffs multiple options through the air. Hergy Mayala also had his first career reception, which was positively Hergilicious.
The Bad:
- Despite obliterating UCF in pretty much every aspect of the game, UConn still had some very UConn-esque moments. That included an instance where the Huskies seemed to have UCF pinned on its 1-yard line off a kickoff, but Tyraiq Beals didn’t realize he was already in the endzone when he decided to down the ball. The result was a touchback with a five-yard penalty tacked on. Huskies gonna Husky sometimes.
- UConn also missed some opportunities to tack more points on, particularly in the first and second quarters, but hey — who are we to complain?
- The offensive line had some rough moments again. Shirreffs was sacked five times for a total loss of 22 yards.
- UCF is still trying to deny the greatest rivalry in all of football:
I think Regina George said it best pic.twitter.com/OTxNCVo9Mg
— Knightro (@UCF_Knightro) October 10, 2015
Bowl eligibility watch:
9/3 vs. Villanova
9/12 vs. Army
9/19 at Missouri
9/26 vs. Navy
10/2 at BYU
10/10 at UCF (Civil ConFLiCT) CONFLIIICT CHAMPIONS!!!! WOOOOOOOOT!
10/17 vs. USF (Homecoming)
10/24 at Cincinnati
10/30 vs. East Carolina (non-conference)
11/7 at Tulane
11/21 vs. Houston
11/28 at Temple
Picture of Bob Diaco soaking wet:
