Knight Nation mourns Coach Shawn Clark
By ADAM EATON | Sons of UCF
On September 21st, UCF assistant coach Shawn Clark passed away in a local Orlando hospital, according to a statement released by UCF Athletics. Clark, who was in his first season with the Knights, was admitted to a local hospital on September 9th due to a medical emergency and remained hospitalized until his passing. Clark, 50, had an accomplished coaching career, which included five years as the head coach at his alma mater, Appalachian State University.
Knights head coach Scott Frost shared the following thoughts:
“Shawn was so much more than a coach. He was a remarkable man, husband, and father who cared deeply about his players and staff,” said UCF head coach Scott Frost. “The reaction of our players and coaches to the news this morning is a testament to Shawn’s character and the impact he had on every life that he touched. He was loved. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Jonelle, and children, Giana and Braxton. We are here to support them and will continue to keep them in our hearts and prayers.”
The Knights postponed their regularly scheduled media availability on Monday, and no further information is available at this time.
Rest in peace, Coach Clark
On the Field
The Knights (3-0) finished off their non-conference schedule with a convincing 34-9 win over the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Knights never trailed in the contest, using a methodical offense and aggressive defense to stymie the Tar Heels and their head coach, Bill Belichick.
Let’s give out some game balls:
Tayven Jackson – Making his second straight start for the Knights, Jackson had his best game of the season, going 25-32, 233 yards, and 1 TD through the air, on top of 66 yards and 1 TD on the ground.
Lewis Carter – Playing in just his second game of the year due to a targeting suspension, Carter was all over the field on Saturday, totaling 10 tackles, one sack, and two tackles-for-loss. All told, the defense limited North Carolina to only 217 yards of total offense.
Scott Frost and Steve Cooper – The two masterminds behind the UCF offense devised a masterful game plan that put UCF in position to win the game. First, the tempo and play scheme allowed UCF to amass over 33 minutes of offensive possession, including drives of 18, 13, and 14 plays. The Knights’ offense also made timely decisions, which included a perfect 4-for-4 record on fourth-down conversions. Next, Jackson spread the ball around, resulting in 9 different players recording a reception, led by tight ends Dylan Wade (5) and Kylan Fox (1 TD catch). Lastly, Frost and company managed the clock beautifully at the end of the first half, which allowed them to drive down the field in 1:17 to score a touchdown with 13 seconds remaining. The 20-3 halftime lead proved too much for the Tar Heels to overcome
Next Up
The Knights kick off their Big 12 conference schedule with a trip to Manhattan, Kansas, to take on the Kansas State Wildcats. Kickoff is slated for 12:00 p.m. EST on FS1.