South Carolina vs. Central Florida First Half: Knights Knocking on SEC’s Door
By Jack Crosby
Sep 28, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; UCF Knights quarterback Blake Bortles (5) shouts a play call during the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Bright House Networks Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports
At 3-0 on the season, there’s still not many that believe the Central Florida Golden Knights are for real. Even with an impressive win on the road two weeks ago against Penn State, the skeptics are still out there in full force.
One way to combat that would be to come out this afternoon and take it to one of the powers of the SEC, the South Carolina Gamecocks. And through one half, that’s exactly what the Knights are doing.
At the intermission, UCF leads South Carolina 10-0. The Knights came out after receiving the opening kickoff and drove the ball 75 yards down the field on the opening drive, which was capped off by a 1-yard Storm Johnson touchdown. UCF would add a field goal about midway through the second quarter to give them the 10.
The South Carolina offense has had about as bad of a day so far that you can ask for. Prior to the game, we learned that they would be without their leading receiving target, Shaq Roland, and then in-game, they lost their starting QB when Connor Shaw left the game with a shoulder strain. Backup Dylan Thompson has taken over those duties.
One last note on the ineffectiveness of the South Carolina offense is the fact that a running game is all but non-existent. RB Mike Davis only has five carries so far for just 17 yards.
UCF’s star, QB Blake Bortles, has been good at times, while also flashing some room for improvement. He’s overshot a few wide open targets down the field and, late in the second quarter, was picked off by a member of the South Carolina secondary on a ball that shouldn’t have been thrown near that are in the first place.
Mistakes will absolutely have to be at a minimum altogether for UCF in the second half if they want to have a shot at completing the upset victory this afternoon.