UCF Football: 3 takeaways from home takedown of Houston in Week 10

2. Dillon Gabriel showed poise playing from behind and from ahead

Through the first half, the Knights backfield was getting soundly beaten by the Cougars in terms of rushing productivity. At the same time, understanding that UCF had the ball for only six minutes and change in the first half and called only 11 running plays, the fact that they had already amassed 99 rushing yards is more than respectable.

Thankfully Dillon Gabriel played well in the first half, zipping the ball around to his receivers and ensuring that the Knights were able to keep pace with a hot Houston side. The Cougars were able to control the clock, but they were unable to stop Gabriel when he had the football. Going 11-of-17 in the first half, Gabriel threw for 154 yards and a passing before the intermission.

Gabriel added two more touchdown passes in the second half as he finished 21-of-30 for 298 yards on the afternoon. He also added a 22-yard scoring run in the first half as he helped keep the offense moving well on short time. Accounting for 24 points, Gabriel nearly outscored the Houston offense singlehandedly on Saturday afternoon at home.

It was an incredibly mature performance from a freshman quarterback, who kept the offense calm even when the Knights were behind on the scoreboard. In the end, that confidence paid off in droves as the home side ran away with the win.