New-look UCF demolishes Arizona to snap 5-game losing skid

Field Level Media|published: Sat 2nd November, 19:03 2024

Nov 2, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights running back RJ Harvey (7) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Wildcats during the first quarter at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

UCF scored touchdowns on seven consecutive possessions and tallied 602 yards in total offense in a 56-12 rout of Arizona in a Big 12 game Saturday at Orlando, Fla.

The Knights (4-5, 2-4 conference) played their first game since coach Gus Malzahn fired defensive coordinator Ted Roof and replaced him with Addison Williams, who has coached primarily defensive backs.

Malzahn also relinquished play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr. heading into the game with Arizona.

Dylan Rizk, a redshirt freshman, made the first start in his college career and completed 20 of 25 passes for 294 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Rizk also had 55 yards rushing on nine carries.

RJ Harvey rushed for 184 yards on 22 carries and scored three touchdowns.

The Knights' Jacoby Jones finished with five catches for 106 yards and a touchdown, and Randy Pittman Jr. had five receptions for 80 yards with two TDs.

Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita was 24 of 33 for 256 passing yards and two TDs with no interceptions. Seven of those passes were caught by Chris Hunter for a total of 102 yards.

Tetairoa McMillan had six catches for 84 yards with a touchdown. He became the first Arizona receiver to have two 1,000-yard seasons in a career. McMillan totaled 1,402 yards last season and is at 1,066 this year.

Rizk completed a 48-yard Hail Mary pass to Pittman as time expired in the first half, giving UCF a 35-6 lead.

That occurred 46 seconds after Arizona (3-6, 1-5) scored its first touchdown of the game, a 24-yard pass from Fifita to Sam Olson.

Arizona cut the lead to 42-12 with 8:08 left in the third quarter on a 2-yard pass from Fifita to McMillan.

The Knights struck back fast again less than two minutes later on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Rizk to Jones.

UCF went on its run of scoring a touchdown on seven straight possessions after a missed field goal concluded its first drive.

The streak ended with a punt with 13:32 remaining.

The Knights snapped a five-game losing streak with the victory.

Arizona is now on a five-game losing streak, failing to win since upsetting then-No. 10 Utah 23-10 on Sept. 28 in Salt Lake City.

--Field Level Media