The UCF Knights suffered a heartbreaking 27-20 loss to Kansas last Saturday, as one crucial play shifted the momentum in the Jayhawks’ favor.
Jayhawks’ safety Jalen Dye rushed into the pocket unscathed and laid the boom on Knights quarterback Tayven Jackson, causing him to fumble, which Kansas would recover and score in the following drive.
The Knights were one play away from tying the game, but Kansas’ defense forced a turnover on downs. “One play away” was the theme of Monday’s press conference. UCF head coach Scott Frost, wide receiver Waden Charles and linebacker Cole Kozlowski all recognized how close the team was to winning games.
Coach Frost spoke about how the team can overcome its current struggles and get back in the win column.
“I think just keep putting ourselves in that situation [one play away],” Frost said. “We got to keep putting ourselves in that situation, give ourselves chances, and it’s going to work out.”
UCF’s attempt to tie last Saturday’s game with 1:47 left in the fourth quarter is the best example of what Frost alluded to. The team failed to convert in the red zone, but the opportunity is what matters and the Knights can put themselves in favorable positions through clean, high-level execution with minimal self-inflicted mistakes.
The self-inflicted mistakes, for example, are the flags the Black and Gold picked up in their later drives after Jackson’s fumble. UCF picked up three false start penalties in the fourth quarter alone, which proved detrimental as each penalty pushed the team back five yards.
Take the Knights’ second drive of the fourth quarter, where they had two false start penalties. The first pushed them back from 2nd & 8 to 2nd & 13, followed by a three-yard sack, making it 3rd & 16. UCF picked up its second false start of the drive, which pushed the team back to 3rd & 21. A long third down is a tough situation for any football team, and the Knights couldn’t capitalize, as quarterback Cam Fancher failed to convert the third down and the team was forced to punt.
Mistakes like this pile up, and it’s imperative to minimize them as much as possible, especially in Big 12 conference play. Charles acknowledged the need to lessen the self-inflicted wounds, and trusting your teammates can help solve the issue at hand.
“You got to work together as a team,” Charles said. “Look to your brother on the left, look to your brother on the right, and just know they’re going to have your back for weeks to come.”
Trust and opportunity are what the Knights will need in their journey to Nippert Stadium to face their long-time rival, the Cincinnati Bearcats. The all-time matchup record between these two teams is tied at 5-5, with the last matchup ending in the Bearcats’ favor 19-13 on Oct. 12, 2024.
Saturday’s game will be an extremely tough test, as Cincinnati is one of the hottest offensive teams in the nation, led by junior quarterback Brendan Sorsby and senior running backs Tawee Walker and Evan Pryor.
The Bearcats aren’t just hot, they’re scorching. They’re a perfect 21 of 21 in the red zone, tied for first in the nation amongst other teams; the offensive line recently earned the Big 12 Offensive Line of the Week honors and has only allowed one sack this season; and are second in total points in the Big 12 at 39.2 points per game.
Linebacker Cole Kozlowski shared how UCF’s defense will approach defending Sorsby and his dual-threat talent.
“I think just containing him,” Kozlowski said. “Rush lanes are going to be huge this week. And being able to plaster in coverage and stay with our guy, and then everyone doing their jobs and pulling the quarterback if he decides to scramble.”
The Knights’ defense must stay “assignment sound,” a term Kozlowski often used in his press conference to emphasize focusing on the little things, like being in the right gaps and remaining consistent in minimizing mistakes. This motto is even more imperative with news of defensive tackle Horace Lockett’s season-ending torn pectoral muscle against Kansas State.
UCF aims to execute at a high level and cool down the Bearcats' red-hot offense on Saturday to overcome its obstacles and snap a two-game losing skid to earn its first Big 12 victory in a hostile environment.