Written by Adrian Beecher
Orlando, FL - Arkansas State attacked first in the Cure Bowl, scoring a touchdown on a blocked punt and then opened up a 17-0 lead on the Knights. UCF then responded, cutting the deficit to 1 score before the half. Here is your full 1st half recap.
UCF opened with possession and were unable to get anything going after a personal foul on the opening kickoff pushed them back to their own 11-yard line. Then on the first play from scrimmage UCF was backed up 5 more yards for a false start. Then it was 3 and out as McKenzie Milton was sacked on 3rd down at his own 1-yard line, forcing a 4th and 20.
Arkansas State took over on the UCF punt at the Knights 41 yard line, but they were also unable to get anything going and the red Wolves were forced into a 3 and out as well. Then UCF followed suit with another three and out, however this time their punt ended in disaster. Red Wolves Johnston White came right off the edge and blocked the Knights punt. Free safety BJ Edmonds recovered the ball in the end zone for the ASU touchdown as the Red Wolves took a7-0 lead with 10:59 left on the clock.
After another exchange of three and outs by ASU and UCF, the Red Wolves again went into attack mode. This time it was a 67-yard pass from Justice Hansen to Blake Mack, the longest pass play in Cure Bowl history. This put them down to the UCF 5 yard line, but the Re Wolves would have to settle for a 22-yard field goal.
On the ensuing kickoff, UCF fumbled and Arkansas State took over at the Knights 16 yard line. Three plays later, Hansen found Kendall Sanders in the back of the end zone for the TD connection. This made it 17-0 Red Wolves with 2:48 left in the 1st quarter.
UCF’s next possession would get them into Arkansas State territory for the first time of the day setting up a 4th and 2 from the Red Wolves 44 yard line in the 2nd quarter. However, pressure from the ASU defense would force a bad throw from McKenzie and forced a turnover on downs. The next two possessions for ASU would end quickly in 3 and outs.
The Knights first score of the game came with 9:31 left to play in the 2nd quarter. It came on a quick 4-play 48-yard drive that took just 1:25 off the clock as Milton connected with Taylor Oldham in the back of the end zone for the 11 yard score to make it 17-7. It was the first score of Oldham’s career at UCF.
Near the end of the half, UCF was called for a 15-yard facemask penalty on their kickoff to ASU. This set up the Red Wolves up with a 1st and 10 at their own 40 yard line, however the UCF defense answered and forced a quick three and out, adding a sack on 3rd and 5.
Unable to carry the momentum, UCF would be forced into a 3 and out as well. ASU took over 1st and 10 at their own 43-yard line with just 2:15 left in the half. But UCF on the first play from Hansen threw a pass in the backfield to Chris Murray, who was then stripped of the ball by UCF’s Demeitre Brim. The ball was then recovered by the Knights giving them possession at the ASU 30 yard line.
Little progression was made on the Knights drive, they were however able to tack on a 45 yard field goal to cut it to a 1 score game with 1:04 left to play in the half. The Red Wolves wouldn’t do anything with it on their next possession as the clock expired and then took their 17-10 lead into the locker room.
UCF opened with possession and were unable to get anything going after a personal foul on the opening kickoff pushed them back to their own 11-yard line. Then on the first play from scrimmage UCF was backed up 5 more yards for a false start. Then it was 3 and out as McKenzie Milton was sacked on 3rd down at his own 1-yard line, forcing a 4th and 20.
Arkansas State took over on the UCF punt at the Knights 41 yard line, but they were also unable to get anything going and the red Wolves were forced into a 3 and out as well. Then UCF followed suit with another three and out, however this time their punt ended in disaster. Red Wolves Johnston White came right off the edge and blocked the Knights punt. Free safety BJ Edmonds recovered the ball in the end zone for the ASU touchdown as the Red Wolves took a7-0 lead with 10:59 left on the clock.
After another exchange of three and outs by ASU and UCF, the Red Wolves again went into attack mode. This time it was a 67-yard pass from Justice Hansen to Blake Mack, the longest pass play in Cure Bowl history. This put them down to the UCF 5 yard line, but the Re Wolves would have to settle for a 22-yard field goal.
On the ensuing kickoff, UCF fumbled and Arkansas State took over at the Knights 16 yard line. Three plays later, Hansen found Kendall Sanders in the back of the end zone for the TD connection. This made it 17-0 Red Wolves with 2:48 left in the 1st quarter.
UCF’s next possession would get them into Arkansas State territory for the first time of the day setting up a 4th and 2 from the Red Wolves 44 yard line in the 2nd quarter. However, pressure from the ASU defense would force a bad throw from McKenzie and forced a turnover on downs. The next two possessions for ASU would end quickly in 3 and outs.
The Knights first score of the game came with 9:31 left to play in the 2nd quarter. It came on a quick 4-play 48-yard drive that took just 1:25 off the clock as Milton connected with Taylor Oldham in the back of the end zone for the 11 yard score to make it 17-7. It was the first score of Oldham’s career at UCF.
Near the end of the half, UCF was called for a 15-yard facemask penalty on their kickoff to ASU. This set up the Red Wolves up with a 1st and 10 at their own 40 yard line, however the UCF defense answered and forced a quick three and out, adding a sack on 3rd and 5.
Unable to carry the momentum, UCF would be forced into a 3 and out as well. ASU took over 1st and 10 at their own 43-yard line with just 2:15 left in the half. But UCF on the first play from Hansen threw a pass in the backfield to Chris Murray, who was then stripped of the ball by UCF’s Demeitre Brim. The ball was then recovered by the Knights giving them possession at the ASU 30 yard line.
Little progression was made on the Knights drive, they were however able to tack on a 45 yard field goal to cut it to a 1 score game with 1:04 left to play in the half. The Red Wolves wouldn’t do anything with it on their next possession as the clock expired and then took their 17-10 lead into the locker room.