BCP, September 20, 2018– History in the making as No. 16 Central Florida will host Florida Atlantic tomorrow night at 7 on the four-letter network, (ESPN) after UCF’s matchup against North Carolina last week was postponed due to Hurricane Florence circling the Carolinas. The Knights have to get the juices flowing again after a little bye week, here’s a BCP look at some expectations and factoids about this Friday Night Light’s long-awaited dance.
Up to this point, UCF is 2-0 and 1st place in their respected East division within the American Athletic Conference. FAU is 2-1 currently landing at 3rd place in their respected East division within Conference USA; last time the Owls debuted the season at 2-1 was in 2007. The Black and Gold have an 84.9% chance of coming out on top compared to the Owl’s 15.1% chance according to ESPN’s Football Power Index.
The stakes are high on both sides even though UCF might have the upper-hand, FAU is not to be taken lightly and brushed off the shoulder as they will bring their ‘A-game’ to Orlando. A win would mean the program’s 90th victory and their first W against a ranked opponent- a settling milestone for the squad if achieved. After all, these two teams have only had one date with each other, UCF walking away triumphantly in the Citrus Bowl nail-biter in 2003, 33-29.
Offensively, three play-makers to keep on your radar for FAU are 5’9” 200-pound junior RB Devin Singletary, who ranks among the nation’s greatest backs EVER in rushing touchdowns, in the top 3three with 32 scores- only Hall of Famer Barry Sanders in 1988 and Montee Ball in 2011 have more. Catching passes is 6’ 165-pound red-shirt junior WR Jovon Durante, and heaving those passes is 6’1” 177-pound redshirt freshman QB Chris Robinson who is playing exponentially well under center, setting a program single-game high with 471 yards in their first win of the season versus Air Force.
As far as UCF’s offensive weapons go, these three performers should make the most noise: 5’8” 164-pound junior RB Adrian Killins, with 17 carries for 127 yards, tallying 3 scores thus far, also being one of the fastest players in college football. Last year’s Heisman candidate, 5’11” 185-pound junior QB McKenzie Milton and 6’2” 180-pound sophomore WR Tre Nixon, who’s done the most with the least, totaling 154 yards on 8 receptions and 2 TD’s.
This face-off is set to be an intriguing one, overdue to settle the score once again with some updated dynamic rosters and Knights Nation will welcome the red and blue Owls in open arms rowdily!
Vaughan Sixbury, BCP Contributor