Sep 29, 2018; Orlando, FL, USA; UCF Knights quarterback McKenzie Milton (10) runs for a touchdown as Pittsburgh Panthers linebacker Quintin Wirginis (58) gives chase during the second quarter at Spectrum Stadium. Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
ORLANDO – McKenzie Milton is like a movie reel. He extends from cut to cut or game to game with the same sense of consistency in telling his football story. Milton was again extraordinary on Saturday as he completed 18 of 34 passes for 328 yards and four touchdowns, while running for two scores in Central Florida’s 45-14 thumping of the Pitt Panthers at Spectrum Stadium.
Milton found four different receivers for scores. Wide receivers Gabriel Davis and Otis Anderson, running back Adrian Killins, Jr. and tight end Michael Colubiale were on the receiving ends of his touchdown tosses as he enjoyed his 11th 300-yard plus passing game and averaged 18.2 yards per completion.
“We have a lot of dynamic playmakers,” said UCF coach first-year coach Josh Heupel, who saw the Knights extend their winning streak to 17 in a row. “Guys out wide make plays and all the guys step up and our backfield is versatile and deep.”
Milton was all about a the carryover from week to week, as he quickly picked up where he left off in accounting for six touchdowns in last week’s win over Florida Atlantic. He opened the scoring on a five-yard touchdown run and then hit Davis on a 23-yard touchdown pass with 4:57 remaining in the first quarter to give UCF a 14-0 lead that was never threatened.
“McKenzie is a phenomenal quarterback, a phenomenal leader and a phenomenal person,” said Killins. “Playing ball with him is fun.”
Killin’ it: Killins came into Saturday’s game as the Knights’ leading rusher. He left by making a profound statement in the passing game.
Killins set up the first score on a 64-yard pass on the drag route that showed his speed out of the backfield as he beat Pitt LB Quintin Wirginis to the outside for the longest completion of the Knights this season to that point.
“A.K. is a dynamic playmaker – running back, wide receiver, punt returner and he is electric when he has the ball in his hands,” said Heupel.
Early in the second half, he came out of the backfield uncovered and caught a 71-yard touchdown pass to give the Knights 38-7 lead with 12:39 remaining in the third. Killins finished with three catches for 140 yards, while rushing for 40 yards on 12 carries.
“It was an option route for me to do what I want,” said Killins. “I was McKenzie’s outlet. He threw me the ball and I went for it. McKenzie literally told me to get out and he threw me the ball and it went for it, however many yards.”
Pummeling Pitt – On offense, the Panthers were stymied all day by Central Florida’s defense as they totaled only 272 yards on 59 plays.
The Knights went to more of a base defense during the fourth quarter which finally allowed quarterback Kenny Pickett to complete a touch pass to wide receiver Maurice Ffrench at the line of scrimmage which went for 58 yards on a catch-and-run.
The Panthers lack any kind of stable offense through the air or on the ground, but Qadree Ollison had been the most steady performer so far in averaging 88.8 yards per game and scoring four touchdowns.
Saturday he rushed for 49 yards on 11 carries and did not find the end zone. The Knights’ defense was so much faster than the Pitt skill people that it was able to dictate the game.
“Our run defense played lights out,” explained Heupel. “We held them to 109 yards on 33 carries and dominated the line of scrimmage. That was the challenge going into it and our guys rose to that challenge.”
Penalty Box: Pittsburgh came into the game with 254 yards on 29 penalties over its first four games and again destroyed it’s faint hopes on Saturday with 125 yards on 11 miscues.
The most significant of those happened midway through the second quarter. A roughing the passer infraction by linebacker Chase Pine gave UCF the ball back after Milton threw what appeared to be his first interception of the game.
Milton was out of the pocket on the right side and attempted a throwback pass which Demar Hamlin picked off and returned it 85 yards to the UCF 5-yard line.
Take it for Grant-ed: Knights safety Richie Grant picked off Kenny Pickett with 8:24 remaining in the second quarter for his third theft of the season. The Panthers had started to move the football on the ground, and it appeared the Pitt wide receiver was late on the route when Grant stepped in front of the ball at the 5-yard line and returned it to the 33. He had a stellar afternoon as he was second on the team in tackles with eight – four solo – and the interception.
