UCF Holds on for Tight Week 1 Victory

BY ADAM EATON | Sons of UCF

Let’s start with the elephant in the room: it didn’t really go as any Knight fan had hoped. That includes UCF head coach Scott Frost who said postgame, “[the] game didn’t quite look like I anticipated it would go, but I was really happy with the fight and perseverance of our guys.”

That fight and perseverance were definitely needed as the Knights had to come from behind to beat a scrappy Jacksonville State team, 17-10. A night filled with the potential for promise and excitement was instead filled with sloppiness – both on the field and throughout the east Orlando sky. 

As it usually happens with a sporting contest, things are probably never as good, or as bad, as they might seem. Let’s take a look at what we learned:

The Good News

• UCF won the game. While this result was expected by many, it isn’t something that should be taken for granted just because it didn’t happen as smoothly as expected. While many in the fan base are rightfully frustrated with the performance, going 1-0 was always the goal, and though ugly, the Knights got there in the end.

• We might have gotten some clarity on the quarterback situation (maybe?). First, let’s hope that Cam Fancher is not seriously injured after taking a vicious hit midway through the second quarter. But his 27 plays resulted in zero points, one fumble, and one punt. Tayven Jackson took over, and initially, things didn’t look much better, with three of his first four drives ending in a punt, and only three points on the board. However, something clicked in the fourth quarter, where Jackson went 8 for 11 with 161 yards and two touchdowns. Postgame, and again on Monday, Frost was non-committal on who would be at quarterback going forward, but it’s safe to assume that Jackson’s in-game performance might influence the decision. 

• Although it was sometimes self-inflicted, UCF responded to adversity, which was something coach Frost had been questioning about this group. With their backs against the wall late in the game, the defense came up with plays when they had to, and the offense came alive. Perhaps this result will help galvanize the team and speed up the development and trust that will be needed as the schedule gets more challenging. 

• Frost won a one-score game, something that was a struggle during his Nebraska tenure. Many, including me, lamented Frost’s 5-22 record in one-score games since 2018, so it’s only fair that we point out when the opposite occurs. And while this probably wasn’t a game many thought would be this close, Frost’s decision to insert Jackson into the game, and some of the late game play calls, helped put the Knights in position to win. 

The Bad News

• The Knights committed 9 penalties for 80 yards, including two that directly resulted in a Jax State first down, another on the Jax State one-yard line that ultimately forced UCF to settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown, and a holding call that wiped a Myles Montgomery rushing touchdown off the board. Imagine how different this game might have looked if UCF hadn’t lost a potential 11 points due to these errors. 

• The offensive line struggled to create consistent running lanes all night, leaving UCF with a 2.9 yards per carry average. The longest run from a running back came on a 13-yard burst from Myles Montgomery, who tallied 80 yards on 21 carries. The Knights inability to get the ground game going contributed to the constipated offense through the first three quarters, and could be a concerning element moving forward.

• UCF left another 3 points on the board with a missed 43-yard field goal attempt from Noe Ruelas. Hopefully, sloppy field conditions and first game jitters were the cause here, and can be rectified quickly. The Knights have struggled to find a consistent field goal kicker since 2020, and while it is only one miss, it dredges up some PTSD.

• The offense just seemed… off. The stats from the game would show you that UCF racked up over 420 yards of total offense, averaging 6 yards a play. However, the eye test certainly felt like a different story. The Knights had two long drives of 13 and 17 plays in the first two quarters, and came away with zero points. There was a lost fumble, a missed blitz pickup, and several offensive line penalties that killed drives or cost the Knights points. In his Monday press availability, Frost chalked this up to a new team, new coaches, and a new play-caller learning the team in real-time. Whatever the cause, it’s something that needs to improve. 

What to watch for

As the schedule moves forward to a Saturday contest against North Carolina A&T, here are some things to keep an eye on:

• Quarterback – At his Monday press availability Frost labeled the QB situation as TBD, but also referenced that Cam Fancher was still feeling sore from the hit he took on Thursday. There are no other media sessions with Frost for the rest of the week, so there might not be any clarity on a starter until game day.

• Offensive Line – The Knights rotated seven guys on Thursday night, with Cam Kinnie and Jabari Brooks getting 20 snaps a piece in place of starting guards Gaard Memmalaar and Keegan Smith. It’s unclear if this rotation will continue moving forward, but at some point, you’d like to see the Knights settle on their core unit.

• Lewis Carter – The starting linebacker led the Knights with 9 total tackles in week 1, but a fourth quarter targeting penalty could see him miss the first half of the game against NC A&T. Frost mentioned that UCF would appeal the penalty, but if unsuccessful, they’ll need somebody to step in and take the role. Colgate transfer Cole Kozlowski or Virginia Tech transfer Jayden McDonald are the likely choices, but Frost mentioned that they would play multiple guys to fill the position.

• Precision and Execution – Frost identified these as the biggest gaps and areas of improvement needed in week 2. On the field, this would hopefully translate into fewer penalties, a better flow on offense, and improved offensive line play. 

The Knights (-21.5) are scheduled to host North Carolina A&T on Saturday, September 6^th at 7pm. Keep it locked on the Sons of UCF for all of the latest news and analysis.