Nov 23, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA; UCF Knights quarterback Darriel Mack Jr. (8) runs out of the pocket as South Florida Bulls defensive tackle Brandon Boyce (95) pressures during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Talk about the collective air being taken out of a football stadium, that happened in the worst way early in the second quarter of UCF’s 38-10 win over South Florida on Friday. UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton went around right end for what appeared to be a first down as USF cornerback Mazzi Watkins converged on him and made the tackle.
Milton didn’t get up as Wilkins hit him on the right side of the right knee. The All-America candidate quarterback was in tumultuous pain and had to be put on a stretcher and removed on a cart.
After the UCF training staff rushed across the field, the entire Knights squad joined them, then the USF Bulls’ entire team, which made for a circle.
Circles mean infinity and the rivalry and the thoughts of winning a football game were in the shadows at that point. Milton was down and visibly in pain on what appeared to be the last play in his storied career at UCF.
That display on the field exemplified togetherness no matter which side of the football you are on for 60 minutes.
“I haven’t seen the injury,” said UCF coach Josh Heupel in the postgame presser. “My immediate concern is his well-being. I told him that I loved him. He was aware of that and said the same thing back.”
The Knights circled themselves and rallied behind redshirt freshman quarterback Darriel Mack in capturing the “War on I-4,” grabbing their 16th win in the 22 meetings in the series. Mack led UCF on three touchdown drives, as well as a field goal drive, as he rushed for 51 yards on 10 carries while completing five of 10 passes for 86 yards.
“I was extremely proud of DJ, just the way he came and the poise he played with, the way he took care of the football, missed a couple of plays and then he rebounded and made a couple of plays as well. Typical of who he is and how he has practiced inside of our program since the East Carolina game.”
Before the injury, Milton found Gabriel Davis on a 14-yard touchdown pass that gave UCF a 7-0 first quarter lead.
Bulldozer: The Knights’ ability to run the football was a major factor in this game, especially after Milton’s injury. They finished with 391 yards on 58 carries and worked their solid running attack from the point Milton suffered the injury.
Greg McRae finished with 181 yards on 16 carries and scored three touchdowns. His rushes were breakaway scores as he ran to pay dirt from 40, 39 and 31 yards out.
“He continues to play and execute and do things at such a high level,” said Heupel.” He has had huge ball games and created big running lanes.”
At the outset of the second half, Mack only threw two passes while Greg McRae and Taj McGowan gave the Knights a running game as it clicked for 5.4 yards per carry through those two drives.
However, Mack needed a couple of high percentage plays in the passing game to keep USF somewhat honest. He made those plays on the next drive with a 13-yard pass to Dredrick Snelson and an 11-yard hook up to tight end Michael Colubiale.
On the next play came the 39-yards touchdown run by McRae on the left side on a zone read which was huge because it answered USF’s touchdown on the preceding drive, a 34-yard hook up between quarterback Chris Oladokun and freshman running back Johnny Ford.
It was McRae’s fifth straight game with a touchdown as he had multiple touchdowns in the same game for the first time in his career.
Quarterback Battle: USF had lots of chances early in the game as sophomore Chris Oladokun and junior Brett Kean shared the quarterback duties for the Bulls.
Oladokun drove South Florida 62 yards to the Knights’ 38-yard line on the second drive of the game, but was picked off by UCF defensive back Richie Grant on the 18.
Kean came in on the fourth drive and was ineffective as the Bulls had a pair of three-and-outs wrapped around a third quarter deep pass where Randall St. Felix was wide open straight down the seam and Kean overshot him by about 10 yards.
Oladokun came back on the next drive and hit Johnny Ford on a 34-yard touchdown pass late in the third period that cut the Bulls’ deficit to 17-10 with 1:15 left.
Starter Blake Barnett, who was third in the AAC in total yardage averaging 280.6 yards per game, continues to nurse a shoulder injury.
