Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
UCF
UCF Shocks Herd 23-13 in C-USA Opener
9/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 24, 2005
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ORLANDO - UCF took a 17-point halftime lead and never looked back, as the Golden Knights shut down the Marshall Thundering Herd 23-13 here at the Florida Citrus Bowl, snapping UCF's 17-game losing streak.
It marked the first win for UCF (1-2, 1-0 C-USA) since Oct. 25, 2003, when the Golden Knights defeated Central Michigan 31-13 in Orlando and the first under second-year head coach George O'Leary.
The loss by Marshall (1-2, 0-1 C-USA) was the first to UCF in the short four-game series. The loss was also the Herd's first conference-opening loss since Sept. 12, 2003 (a 24-17 loss to Toledo).
Jimmy Skinner (Chillicothe, Ohio) finished the game with 296 yards on 25-of-45 with two touchdowns and two interceptions, while UCF's Steven Moffett was 19-of-26 with 260 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Ahmad Bradshaw (Bluefield, Va.) finished with 94 total yards. Hiram Moore had seven catches for 110 yards with a touchdown, while Marcus Fitzgerald added 88 yards on seven catches.
Bernie Morris' hometown debut didn't start quite the way he imagined, as Morris, an Orlando native, was hit from behind on the second play of the Herd's opening drive by UCF's Paul Carrington, forcing a fumble which was recovered at the Herd 12-yard line by Keith Shologan.
Three plays later, Steven Moffett connected with Brandon Marshall for a five-yard touchdown, giving the Golden Knights a 7-0 lead with 10:48 in the first quarter.
That score marked the first time this season that the Herd didn't make the opening score of a game.
Morris would redeem himself on the ensuing Marshall possession, completing 6-of-8 passing for 57 yards including a 13-yard pass play to Bradshaw.
However, the Herd would come up empty-handed on the drive, as the oft-reliable Ian O'Connor (Knoxville, Tenn.) missed a 38-yard field goal attempt - his third missed field goal of the season.
A 61-yard punt by UCF's Aaron Horne pinned the Herd at its own 2-yard line on its next drive. Marshall went three-and-out and was forced to punt for the first time in the game.
UCF missed an opportunity to take a double-digit lead, as Prater missed a 47-yard field goal at the 14:15 mark of the second quarter.
UCF, however, did not miss a second opportunity to take a double-digit advantage, as the Knights drove 84 yards in 5:24 on 12 plays to take a 14-0 lead.
The 14-point lead marked the first time UCF had a 14-0 advantage since taking a similar lead against Syracuse on Nov. 2, 2002. The Knights, however, lost that game 38-35.
The 17-0 UCF halftime lead was significant for both teams. It marked the first time since Sept. 13, 2002, at then-7th ranked Virginia Tech that the Herd was scoreless at the midway mark. The Herd trailed that contest 33-0 at the half, only to lose 47-21 to the Hokies.
The 17-point lead marked the largest halftime advantage for the Golden Knights, since Nov. 23, 2002, when UCF held a 28-10 lead at the half over Miami (Ohio). UCF defeated the RedHawks 48-31.
UCF held the Herd to just eight rushing yards on nine carries, while holding Bradshaw, a Doak Walker Award nominee, to three yards on five attempts in the first half.
Scott Wilks (Maryville, Tenn.) paced the defense in the first half with his first career sack and fumble recovery.
Through the first 30 minutes of the game, Marshall already matched its penalty total (six) for the season.
UCF continued its dominance in the second half, but Marshall did force two UCF turnovers. With UCF holding a 20-0 lead in the third quarter in its own territory, the Golden Knights fumbled the ball which was picked up by freshman defensive end Albert McClellan (Lakeland, Fla.) who returned it 12 yards to the UCF 24-yard line.
Marshall broke its scoreless drought at the 2:21 mark of the third quarter, after Jimmy Skinner (Chillicothe, Ohio) connected on a 24-yard touchdown strike with Moore, trimming the UCF lead to 20-7.
With Marshall driving early in the fourth quarter, the Herd faced a fourth-down-and-five conversion from the UCF 35-yard line. Skinner completed a pass to Shawn Lauzon (Virginia Beach, Va.), but was a half-yard short of the first-down marker, turning the ball over on downs to UCF.
Marshall's second drive of the fourth quarter was again stifled by a turnover. UCF's Kareem Reid forced and recovered a Skinner fumble at the UCF 41-yard line.
But, five plays later, Matt Couch (Okeana, Ohio) intercepted Moffett's pass and returned it to the UCF 48-yard line. However, Marshall's third drive of the final period ended with a turnover, as Skinner was picked off by Travonti Johnson.
Marshall used an eight-play, 80-yard drive in 1:30 to trim the UCF lead to 10, 23-13, after Skinner connected on a 12-yard score to Fitzgerald with 4:12 remaining in the game.
Marshall continued to pressure the Golden Knights late in the game. James Johnson blocked a Horne punt and was recovered by Robert Surratt (Ft. Washington, Md.) at the UCF 16-yard line. But, the Herd was unable to capitalize on the crucial turnover as Skinner's fourth-down pass sailed over the head of Lauzon.
