RJ Harvey, UCF aim for success on ground vs. Cincinnati

Field Level Media|published: Wed 9th October, 09:02 2024

Florida Gators defensive lineman Cam Jackson (99) gets a hand on UCF Knights running back RJ Harvey (7) during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 5, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]

Cincinnati and UCF in several ways can be classified as identical twins heading into their game on Saturday afternoon in Orlando, Fla.

For starters, both teams enter with a record of 3-2 overall and 1-1 in Big 12 play. Also, both the Bearcats and Knights are coming off of road defeats, with Cincinnati falling 44-41 at Texas Tech on Sept. 28 and UCF losing 24-13 at Florida on Oct. 5.

The two teams also are the same in that they have two of the most productive rushing attacks in the Big 12.

UCF averages a conference-best 282.4 rushing yards per game behind RJ Harvey, who has rushed for 600 yards and nine touchdowns in the first five games of the season.

Cincinnati is sixth in the conference at 183.8 rushing yards per game, led by Corey Kiner (413 yards). Bearcats coach Scott Satterfield said Kiner suffered a rib or oblique injury in the first quarter against Texas Tech but is expected to play Saturday.

The running game could prove to be vital in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

With all the rain that has hit the Orlando area during the week, the field could be sloppier than usual even though the forecast for Saturday looks to be sunny and in the low 80s.

"With weather, it's usually wind," UCF coach Gus Malzahn said. "That's what really affects people more than anything. So we'll see where it's at."

The big difference between the two offenses is that Cincinnati has shown more balance.

Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby has completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 1,481 yards and 12 touchdowns, a big reason why the Bearcats have the third-most passing yards in the Big 12.

UCF is 12th in passing offense, with quarterback KJ Jefferson (59.3 completion percentage, 1,012 yards, seven TDs, four interceptions) struggling at times.

UCF has won the last two meetings between the teams, including 28-26 last year at Cincinnati.

"In their shoes, you lose a couple in a row and you are going to want to come out and play your best," Satterfield said. "Kind of like that dog backed in a corner. They are going to fight, so we know we are going to get their best shot."

--Field Level Media