The Arizona Wildcats came into their game ready to take advantage of a UCF team that had been on its heels.
After dropping five straight games, the Knights had fired their defensive coordinator and a new offensive playcaller over the course of last week. Redshirt freshman Dylan Rizk, a redshirt freshman, was going to be the fourth quarterback to make a start for the UCF.
It was the setup for Arizona, who took West Virginia to the final minutes last week, to get back on track.
But that’s why you play the game.
UCF came away with a 56-12 win over the Cats. Rizk was 20/25 with 294 passing yards, and three touchdowns. Running back RJ Harvey averaged 8.4 yards per carry and ended the day with 184 yards and two touchdowns. In total, the Knights offense accumulated 602 yards.
Conversely, the Wildcats totaled five rushing yards.
Five.
If not accounting for Noah Fifita’s lost yards on sacks, the team would have totaled 27 yards.
With a score total this high, you may anticipate UCF piled up the turnovers. That wasn’t the case.
Quali Conley fumbled once, and UCF made it a 14-0 game from that turnover, but that was it. It was a matter of UCF being able to convert and move the football.
The Wildcats fell behind and couldn’t keep pace with UCF.
The 3-6 Wildcats will go have a bye before playing Houston on Friday, November 15.
Arizona will have to win out against the Cougars, TCU and Arizona State to be bowl eligible.
Jordan Hamm
