College Media Network - Search the largest news resource for college students by college students Jobs and internships for students -
The Knight's football season opener at home vs. the Samford Bulldogs came close to going  down as a loss for UCF.

The Bulldogs led 24-21 going into the fourth quarter, but quarterback Brett Hodges threw a 9-yard pass to Jamar Newsome with 10:53 left in the game.That seven-play drive started with a 39-yard punt return by senior wide reciever Rocky Ross.

" />

UCF Knights win 28-24 vs. Samford Bulldogs

Published: Saturday, September 5, 2009

Updated: Saturday, September 5, 2009 23:09

The Knight's football season opener at home vs. the Samford Bulldogs came close to going  down as a loss for UCF.

The Bulldogs led 24-21 going into the fourth quarter, but quarterback Brett Hodges threw a 9-yard pass to Jamar Newsome with 10:53 left in the game. That seven-play drive started with a 39-yard punt return by senior wide reciever Rocky Ross.

Hodges, who replaced starting quarterback Rob Calabrese, threw for 10-for-17 for 129 yards and one touchdown. Ross had 85 recieveing yards and ran a total of 91 yards for punt returns.

UCF got off to a fast start entering the second half as wide reciever Quincy McDuffie returned the opening kickoff of the third quarter 95 yards to the end zone, but the Knights missed the field goal, making the score 13-7.

      Samford didn’t waste much time on the losing end, as two plays and 67 yards later the Bulldogs scored off a trick play on a pass from Richie Fordham to Riley Hawkins. It was Hawkins second receiving touchdown on the day.

      On UCF’s first possession of the third quarter, Hodges was intercepted by Ryan Anderson and returned for a 41-yard touchdown. Hodges wasn’t down for long after, as he led the Knights down the field on their following possession for an 11-play, 71 yard drive capped off by Brynn Harvey’s second rushing touchdown of the game.

      The Bulldogs closed the third quarter with a 41-yard field goal to gain back the lead at 24-21.

Harvey continued to carry the Knights in the second quarter, rushing for 55 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries in a 7-7 tie at halftime vs. Samford. UCF converted 3-of-8 first downs in the half while Samford holds the total advantage with eight first downs.

The biggest note for the Knights before the half was Hodges coming in for Calabrese at the quarterback position with 8:50 remaining in the second quarter. Hodges went on to pass for 41 yards on 4-of-6 attempts in the first half, leading the Knights to 1-yard touchdown with 57 seconds remaining.

 Calabrese finished the first half going 3-for-7 with 28 yards passing.

Samford’s first scoring drive came in early in the second quarter off an eight play, 80-yard drive that was capped off by Samford QB Dustin Taliaferro’s 29-yard touchdown pass to Riley Hawkins.

Jamie Boyle missed a 36-yard field goal and the Knights converted only two down in what was a stagnant quarter for offenses in the opening quarter. Harvey led the way for the Knights with seven carries for 27 yards. UCF will open the second quarter on Samford’s 20 yard line after a good punt return by Rocky Ross.

Calabrese went 2-for-5 for a total of 9 yard in the first quarter. 

Recommended: Articles that may interest you

12 comments

Your name
Tue Sep 8 2009 00:44
IM still trying to figure out the reason why they pulled ronnie weaver off the field last year and replaced him. the last i checked he had gotten player of the GAME 12(123 yards)and then the next game he was benched, im starting to think, that death on the field had something to do with it. HOW BOUT THAT OLEARY!
Your name
Mon Sep 7 2009 11:48
This game was a joke. All you simpletons giving UCF praise are morons. This team was (well, should have been) far beneath us and was supposed to be a gimme. Instead, we barely won and looked like a high school team out on that field.
Your name
Sun Sep 6 2009 23:06
FIRE O'LEARY!!
balzak
Sun Sep 6 2009 15:55
Keep Hodges in, he obviously wants to play more than Calabrese or Weatherford. Stick to Ross and Aiken, Watters too. USM is the game to watch to see how this season will look. Game 1 says nothing, even though they played like a div 3 team. And if you think of it like that, UCF pulled the upset! A crappy win is better then a good lose no matter what team it is.
Your name
Sun Sep 6 2009 05:55
This is a way to start the season? This is the pillow fight team that we're supposed to blow out. To give you a perspective, UCF beat them 53-7 last time they played.

Basically this means the season will end up as a disaster.

Your name
Sat Sep 5 2009 23:36
w00t!
Your name
Sat Sep 5 2009 23:25
Keep it up UCF!
Your name
Sat Sep 5 2009 23:23
Go Knights! Way to start the season! :D
Your name
Sat Sep 5 2009 22:55
"no name football school"**
Your name
Sat Sep 5 2009 22:45
No name school? Come on now man, people go there. It's a good school. You should check the college ratings, becase I believe that "no name school" was rated far higher than yours.
Your name
Sat Sep 5 2009 22:43
Go Knights !!! We are proud of you no matter what.
Your name
Sat Sep 5 2009 22:29
Pathetic. USF beat Wofford 40-7. We can't even close on our own no name school.






log out