University of Central Florida opens season with 57-3 win

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The UCF Knights kicked off their 2024 college football season with a commanding 57-3 victory over the New Hampshire Wildcats on Thursday night at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando.

UCF's ground game was the star of the show as the team compiled an impressive 454 rushing yards, the second-highest total in program history. The Knights' offense averaged 8.4 yards per carry, with five players rushing for over 40 yards each.

Standout running back RJ Harvey led the charge with a stellar performance, tallying 142 yards on 11 carries, including a 60-yard run. He scored two touchdowns.

Meanwhile, the Knights' defense proved equally formidable, limiting the Wildcats to just nine first downs throughout the game. The defensive unit's strong play resulted in two interceptions and multiple forced punts, keeping New Hampshire's offense at bay.

Coach's Perspective

Head Coach Gus Malzahn expressed pride in his team's performance, highlighting the defensive effort and the importance of minimizing errors. "I'm proud of our team. Taking care of business with a convincing win," Malzahn stated post-game.

Key Performers

Besides RJ Harvey, quarterback KJ Jefferson was also a standout performer for UCF --contributing both through the air and on the ground, finding the end zone for UCF's first touchdown of the season.

Jefferson threw for 164 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 45 yards and a score for the Knights.

Myles Montgomery and Peny Boone also made significant impacts, with Montgomery scoring his first career receiving touchdown and Boone breaking free for a 59-yard touchdown run.

For New Hampshire, quarterback Seth Morgan passed for 95 yards, while Logan Tomlinson caught six passes for 73 yards in the defeat for the Wildcats.

NEXT UP

The UCF Knights will look to build on this dominant performance as they prepare to host the Sam Houston Bearkats next weekend at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.