UCF struggles offensively in loss to No. 11 BYU and loses top receiver

ORLANDO – No. 11 BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns and added another on the ground to lead the Cougars to a 37-24 victory over UCF on Saturday.

BYU (8-0, 5-0 Big 12) controlled the clock and held the ball for nearly 40 minutes. The Cougars took advantage of their scoring opportunities, especially in some pressure moments during the game.

The Cougars got a 62-yard touchdown pass from Retzlaff to Chase Roberts with 27 seconds left to take a 14-point lead into the locker room. Then they came out of the locker room with a 10-play, 72-yard touchdown drive, capped by a one-yard toss from Retzlaff to tight end Mata'ava Ta'ase.

BYU outscored UCF (3-5, 1-4) 480-379.

Running back LJ Martin rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, and Hinckley Ropati rushed for 83 yards on 13 carries to lead BYU's ground attack. BYU scored the first 17 points of the game to secure the win.

The only bright spot for UCF came from running back RJ Harvey. He rushed for 127 yards on 16 carries, including a 54-yard carry to the two-yard line that he capped off with a touchdown on the next play. He added another two-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

But the Knights struggled overall offensively.

Quarterback Jacurri Brown threw two interceptions in the second half as the Knights tried to rally. He finished 8 of 17 with just 96 passing yards and two picks.

Freshman Dylan Rizk replaced Brown in the fourth quarter and finished the game with 102 yards on 6-for-10 passing.

Trick game

BYU faked a field goal by having defending champion Sam Vander Haar throw the ball between his legs to Will Ferrin for an eight-yard gain and a first down.

The drive ended with a field goal, one of three kicks for Ferrin in the game.

Big loss

UCF played most of the game without leading wide receiver Kobe Hudson.

Hudson made a catch for a 6-yard gain on UCF's first play of the game, but was tackled ineptly. He was supported off the field and put little strain on his right leg, but did not return to the game.

Hudson has 27 catches for 509 yards and three touchdowns this season.

The takeaway food

BYU: The Cougars remain committed to entry into the College Football Playoff as they remain undefeated heading into their final bye week and a rivalry game against Utah in two weeks.

UCF: The Knights have now lost five games in a row. Their bowl game hopes depend on winning three of their last four games.

Next

BYU has next week off and returns to play at rival Utah on Saturday, November 9th

UCF hosts its annual Space Game next week against Arizona.

By PHILIP ROSSMAN-REICH Associated Press

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