UCF Knights Ride the Wave, Look Ahead to UAB

Coming off one of their biggest wins in school history, the UCF Knights were trying to avoid an emotional letdown when they faced the Tulane Green Wave Saturday at Bright House Networks Stadium.

Well, no worries there.

The Knights routed the Green Wave to the tune of a 49-0 shutout. It marked the first shutout win for the Knights since a 17-0 win over South Carolina State in their 2008 season opener and their first conference shutout win since joining C-USA in 2005.

The final score also set a league record as the largest shutout margin ever in Conference USA league play.

The Knights showed the same intensity they did against Houston and some could argue the team was even more motivated against Tulane.

Saturday marked Senior Day and 13 players were recognized during a pregame ceremony to honor their time at the school, which was highlighted by the school's first-ever conference championship in 2007 that culminated in a Liberty Bowl berth.

Last week the Knights defeated No. 13 Houston for one of the biggest upsets in school history. The win marked the first over a nationally ranked opponent for the Knights, who entered the match with an 0-22 record against Associated Press Top 25 teams.

The Knights (7-4, 5-2 Conference USA) faced a Tulane team that has struggled all season. The Green Wave lost to previously winless Rice last week. 

Knights QB Brett Hodges went 19 of 28 for 234 yards and two touchdown passes to WR Kamar Aiken, who finished with 84 yards on just 5 receptions.

Hodges' 234 yards put him at 2,033 passing yards for the season, making him the first 2,000-yard passer for the Knights since former QB Kyle Israel passed for 2,173 yards in UCF's 2007 championship season.

RB Brynn Harvey rushed for 129 yards on 16 attempts and three touchdowns, bringing his season total to 947 rushing yards.

He needs just 53 more yards to become UCF's first 1,000-yard rusher since NFL RB Kevin Smith rushed for a school-record 2,567 yards in 2007, placing him at second in the NCAA record books behind phenom Barry Sanders for most yards rushed in a single season.

Harvey opened the game up for the Knights, scoring on a 50-yard touchdown run less than two minutes into the game. He would score again from two yards out in the second quarter to make it 14-0 UCF at intermission.

It's no secret that UCF is a second half team and Saturday's game proved no different. The Knights exploded in the third quarter, scoring 28 consecutive points to all but ensure a rout.

Brynn Harvey scored his third touchdown of the day on a 2-yard run early in the third, bringing his total this season to 13. He has scored six of those touchdowns in the last two games alone.

RB Jonathan Davis scored on a 9-yard run in the closing seconds of the third quarter.

The sizable lead allowed Head Coach George O'Leary to work in some of his younger players. Brendan Kelly scored on a 6-yard pass from Rob Calabrese less than four minutes into the fourth quarter.

UCF's stout defense held Tulane (3-8, 1-6 Conference USA) to a mere 50 total yards on offense in 51 plays, including -30 yards rushing to counter their 80 passing yards. The Knights forced five Tulane turnovers (3 fumbles lost, 2 interceptions).

The 49 points scored by the Knights tied their season high from Oct. 24, when UCF routed the Rice Owls 49-7 in Houston.

The Knights had a staggering 504 yards of total offense against Tulane.

The win Saturday gives UCF a 3-1 series advantage over the Green Wave.

Looking Ahead to UAB

The Knights get back to the film room this week to begin preparing for UAB. UCF will travel to Birmingham, AL this Saturday for a 1:30PM (EST) kickoff against the Blazers (5-6, 4-3 Conference USA).

Don't let their losing record fool you. The Blazers defeated UCF 15-0 last year in Orlando in a game that led, partially, to the restructuring of the Knights' offense. UCF's defense held the Blazers to five field goals.

UAB is coming off a 37-21 loss to East Carolina that put a stop to the Blazers' hopes of an East Division title.

Prior to the 2008 season, the Knights were undefeated against UAB.