UCF's frustration is they have enough to compete and win
UCF is on a three-game losing streak and fallen to 3-3. The young team is still pulling itself together but frustrated over the opportunities left on the board.
The lasting image of UCF’s 20-11 loss to Cincinnati last Saturday was not the wild tipped catch they had to convert a critical fourth down. It was not Brendan Sorsby throwing for 40-yard touchdown pass in the first half.
It was a drive chart.
On a third-quarter drive, UCF went 17 plays for 40 yards and took 9:02 off the clock. But the Knights came away with zero points, punting from just past midfield.
On that drive, the Knights committed three penalties, including two that backed UCF back to midfield after they got inside the 30.
Any hopes of scoring the upset road win against their old American rivals seemingly went out the window with so much time taken off the clock and how difficult UCF found it to create opportunities.
In the end, UCF was not frustrated about losing to Cincinnati. The Knights were frustrated by how much they beat themselves.
“We had our chances,” coach Scott Frost said. “I don’t think we were outmatched in any one of those three games. We just have to execute better. That falls on the coaching staff and the players to keep finding ways throughout the season to keep improving. We’re going to have a chance to win every game. There is no reason we can’t do special things here down the road.”
The Knights outgained the Bearcats 413-306. They ran 90 plays to the Bearcats’ 48. The difference might well have been the 10 penalties for 75 yards. They all seemed to come at moments that derailed an offense that is still looking for its rhythm.
Frost lamented that the penalties and mistakes just seemed to pile up at the wrong moments.
All of UCF’s losses in this three-game losing streak have followed that seemingly familiar pattern. It is something different that derails the Knights and keeps them from finding their rhythm — injuries to all three of the quarterbacks who battled to start during training camp has not helped either (to that point, last week’s starter in Cam Fancher was ruled out and Jacurri Brown is questionable).
Against Kansas State, it was a slow start that UCF could not completely recover from. Against Kansas, it was stalling in the second half and giving up big plays to Jalon Daniels that let the Jayhawks climb back and steal the win at the Bounce House.
In each instance, it felt like UCF controlled its fate and let it slip. That is at least encouraging as they stare at the season’s second half.
“We look at each other and we’re like we lost this game, they didn’t necessarily win it,” offensive lineman Cam Kinney said. “When you can look in the locker room and guys are understanding this is on us and we’re good enough to win these games, it’s encouraging to see a team and makes you want to come to work the next day.”
The Knights face a must-win game against West Virginia this weekend for homecoming. In most of the power rankings, the Mountaineers are considered the worst team in the conference.
They have dealt with their own injuries too. Leading rusher Jahiem White is out for the year with a knee injury. Backup Tye Edwards has missed time with a hip pointer.
The Mountaineers are also leaning on their third-string quarterback, Khalil Wilkens, after injuries to the two players ahead of him on the depth chart.
There is no overlooking any opponent. But the Knights need some confidence on the field. They are certainly still confident in the locker room, a credit to the coaching staff keeping this team together and building with so many new players on the roster.
The Knights are still working and playing together — there were no reported transfer portal defections after the fourth game.
This is still a seemingly confident group. A group that has proven repeatedly in the last seven weeks that it will fight and respond to adversity. They just need to clean up their execution.
“We’ve just got to play our best and play four quarters,” Frost said. “The guys have been close now and have had opportunities for three weeks in a row. We have got to capitalize on it. What happened in the first three weeks didn’t affect the next three. And what happened in the last three weeks will not affect the next three. We’re a .500 football team right now, and we have a chance to be one over. That’s what we need to focus on. Doing the little things better this week and trying to improve.”
UCF needs a .500 finish to reach bowl eligibility. That would be an impressive feat considering where this team started
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