Morgantown’s Grip Tightens as UCF’s Season Takes a Nosedive

Morgantown’s Grip Tightens as UCF’s Season Takes a Nosedive

Morgantown, W. Va. —

The University of Central Florida (UCF) Knights faced another frustrating loss, falling 31-21 to the West Virginia Mountaineers on Saturday afternoon. This defeat signals the end of UCF’s chances for a postseason bowl appearance, marking a significant downturn for the team, which is set to finish with a losing record for the second consecutive year.

The game took place at Mountaineer Field under a bleak, overcast sky. UCF had one more opportunity to turn their season around with a game against Utah scheduled for Friday, but the loss to West Virginia extinguished their slim hopes of a postseason berth.

Head coach Gus Malzahn acknowledged the team’s struggles during the game. “You look at the game, and it came down to third down. We had trouble getting off the field,” he stated. “Bottom line is we didn’t do what it took to win, and give those guys credit.”

In a largely disappointing season, running back RJ Harvey emerged as a standout, finishing with 130 rushing yards and two touchdowns. His 2-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter finally put points on the board for the Knights. However, the team’s performance overall was less than stellar.

Quarterback Dylan Rizk, making his third start of the season, struggled significantly. He missed his first two throws and even fumbled a handoff, leading to a lost scoring opportunity. The Knights’ offense concluded the game with only 348 total yards, marking their second-lowest output of the season.

West Virginia, which has established itself as one of the top rushing teams in the Big 12, demonstrated their prowess throughout the game. The Mountaineers rushed for 200 yards, averaging over 7 yards per carry. CJ Donaldson Jr. opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run. By the end of the first quarter, the Mountaineers had built a 14-0 lead with Jahiem White scoring on a 3-yard run.

Sophomore linebacker Xe’Ree Alexander expressed frustration regarding the defensive performance. “The defense played like crap,” he said. “It was hard for us to get a third-down stop. We’ve all got to do better and improve.” UCF’s defense allowed West Virginia to convert 44% (8 of 18) of their third downs and had a perfect 4 for 4 on fourth down attempts.

After Harvey’s touchdown cut the lead to 14-7, West Virginia answered with a 12-play drive that ended with a touchdown pass from Garrett Greene to Rodney Gallagher III just before halftime, further extending their lead to 21-7. Notably, this marked the Knights’ fourth consecutive game of allowing points in the final minute of the first half.

The Mountaineers continued their dominance in the second half, scoring again through Donaldson on a 4-yard touchdown run, taking the lead to 28-7. UCF managed to score again midway through the third quarter with a 45-yard touchdown pass from Rizk to Kobe Hudson, but the Knights struggled to maintain momentum thereafter.

As the fourth quarter started, Mountaineers kicker Michael Haynes II increased the lead with a 35-yard field goal. UCF’s offense made one last effort, with Harvey scoring another touchdown to cut the lead again, but it was not enough as they fell short.

Reflecting on the challenging season, Malzahn emphasized the significance of the upcoming game against Utah. “We’ve got one game left and we got to send the seniors out,” he said, revealing the team’s focus for their final matchup.

Moreover, Malzahn put rumors of retirement to rest, stating firmly, “I don’t know where that came from; I’m not retiring.” He expressed disappointment over the season, noting the team’s high expectations and missed opportunities in close games.

The Knights will look to finish the season on a high note as they prepare to face Utah, but the weight of consecutive losing seasons hangs heavy on the program.