UCF scores on offense, defense, special teams in dominating win over Austin Peay
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- McKenzie Milton threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns and scored another on the ground and No. 18 UCF reinforced its reputation for having one of the most explosive offenses in the country with a 73-33 win over Austin Peay on Saturday night.
The 73 points scored was a school record for the Knights, who lead the nation in scoring. UCF scored on 11 of 12 possessions. It's the first time in program history that the Knights have started the season 7-0.
Milton completed his first 14 passes and finished the game 24 of 26. He scored on a 3-yard run before going to the bench in the middle of the third quarter.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Dredrick Snelson caught five of Milton's passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Mike Hughes had a 91-yard kickoff return for a score and Shaquem Griffin returned a fumble 20 yards for a touchdown.
Austin Peay (5-3) had some good moments offensively but couldn't match UCF's speed and depth. Governors wide receiver Kyran Moore scored on a 91-yard kickoff return and 35-yard touchdown reception while rolling up 346 all-purpose yards.
The game will be remembered as much for its bizarre plays as the final score.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}There were two kickoff returns for touchdowns (one each); a fumble return for a touchdown (UCF); a tipped pass for a touchdown (Austin Peay); going four-for-four on fourth-down conversions (two each); a lineman scoring a touchdown after recovering the second of two fumbles on a 5-yard run (Austin Peay); an unsportsmanlike penalty on a head coach (UCF); and a 27-yard touchdown pass in the final seconds.
Hughes' 91-yard kickoff return was matched stride-for-stride by Kyran Moore during a wild second quarter when the two teams combined for 50 points. Griffin's fumble return for a touchdown was part of the action and Taj McGowan scored twice on runs of two and four yards.
Austin Peay had plenty of highlights, too. Governors guard Ryan Rockensuess scored when he fell on teammate Michael Hoover's fumble in the end zone, after Hoover had scooped up Ahmaad Tanner's fumble that started the play.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Trey Pruitt ran on to a tipped pass and got his feet down inbounds to finish off a 12-yard scoring play. Not to be outdone, Moore got credit for a 35-yard touchdown reception when he snatched the ball out of midair after UCF safety Antwan Collier dropped a sure interception.
THE TAKEAWAY
Austin Peay: The Governors were 41-point underdogs and hung with UCF for much of the first half before running out of steam.
UCF: The final score was lopsided, but UCF will spend a lot of time watching film of missed tackles, poor special teams coverage and penalties. Nonetheless, UCF is the lone unbeaten team in the American Athletic Conference and still a candidate for a major bowl bid.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}UP NEXT
Austin Peay: At Tennessee Tech next Saturday.
UCF: On the road for an AAC game at SMU next Saturday.