UCF Knights Losing Streak Continues To 0-10

By Frank Shala
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Updated: November 8, 2015

For the first time in nearly two months, the UCF Knights were in the ballgame in the fourth quarter. But for a team searching for it’s first win, bad things tend to happen. It’s been that kind of season for the Knights.

With just under nine minutes left in the game Saturday afternoon at H.A. Chapman Stadium, UCF trailed Tulsa 31-23 and forced a punt. The Knights muffed the punt and Tulsa recovered. Three plays and 44 yards later, the Golden Hurricane were in the end zone, taking a 15-point lead, en route to a 45-30 victory over UCF.

The Knights are now 0-10 on the season heading into the bye week.

UCF (0-10, 0-6) showed fight, particularly in the second half, which has been a major weakness of this football team. Unfortunately turnovers plagued and ultimately sealed the loss for the black and gold.

“Two costly turnovers there in the fourth quarter or who knows what the outcome could have been,” UCF interim head coach Danny Barrett said. “That (muffed punt) was one that got away from us. We had a chance, eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter. That’s as close as we’ve been all year, especially on the road.”

Tulsa (5-4, 2-3) controlled the first half of the game, going up 7-0 midway through the first quarter on a Dane Evans 36-yard touchdown pass to Conner Floyd. UCF kicker Matthew Wright made it 7-3 with a 37-yard field, but Evans and Floyd would find the end-zone again for the Golden Hurricane to end the first quarter leading 14-3.

Ramadi Warren scored on a 5-yard run and a Redford Jones field goal extended Tulsa’s lead to 24-3 at halftime.

The third quarter was all UCF. Three consecutive third-quarter takeaways led to 17 unanswered points and got the Knights right back in the game.

Brendin Straubel provided the spark for UCF, first with an interception, which transitioned into the offense going 71 yards in nine plays, and a Taj McGowan 2-yard touchdown run. Straubel would come up huge again, this time forcing a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, which UCF turned into a field goal to make it 24-13.

Chequan Burkett would intercept Evans on the next drive. Justin Holman would eventually find Tre’Quan Smith on an 11-yard touchdown pass, cutting Tulsa’s lead to 24-20 heading into the fourth quarter.

Holman would finish the game 22-41 for 293 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Warren would get his second rushing touchdown on the day from 1-yard out early in the fourth to go up 31-20. Matthew Wright’s third field goal made it 31-23 with 9:32 left in the game.

Momentum seemed to be with UCF after forcing Tulsa to punt, but anything that was there quickly disappeared with the muff on the return.

Warren’s third touchdown made it 38-23 and the game was essentially over. He finished with 168 rushing yards to accompany the three scores.

Michael Mudoh sealed it for Tulsa, returning an interception 86 yards for a score with 3:31 remaining. Jordan Franks scored late to give the Knights a final score.

The old storylines continued to play true Saturday in Oklahoma. At this point, anything bad that can happen, is happening to this football team. The Knights have been beaten to death this season about injuries and young, inexperienced players. But in actuality, this is a team that has continued to turn the football over while making countless mental errors.

This game felt a little different and it was good to see the bits of success in the second half but ultimately it ended with the same result.

UCF and Kansas are now the only two (out of 128) FBS football teams without a win, with the Knights the only at 0-10.

The Knights will be off this week, before returning to Bright House Networks Stadium Nov. 19 to host East Carolina.