Colleges

Knights close but no stunner

UCF nearly opens its on-campus stadium with a huge upset victory.

By IZZY GOULD, Times Staff Writer
Published September 16, 2007

Central Florida quarterback Kyle Israel fumbles the ball after a collision with Texas cornerback Ryan Palme, left, and safety Marcus Griffin on Saturday.
	[AP photo]

ORLANDO - Jet fighters roared overhead, lightning popped in the distance and rain fought with the sun for a front-row seat.

Bright House Networks Stadium was open for business Saturday with No.6 Texas staring deep into the eyes of a program that had never registered a knockout of a top-25 opponent. UCF stared right back and with most of the 45,622 fans behind them they pushed with all of their might.

The Knights will forever remember how close they came to knocking off Texas. They couldn't overcome two turnovers that led to touchdowns or a career-best five field goals by Texas junior Ryan Bailey in a 35-32 loss.

Fans began emptying their new palace when Texas led 35-24 with 3:37 left. But the Knights fought back and with 37 seconds left quarterback Kyle Israel hit Kamar Aiken to get UCF within three. Texas recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.

"Every time you lose you die a little, I think," UCF coach George O'Leary said. "I've died too much."

UCF athletic director Keith Tribble was into it along the sideline as the Knights began a drive trailing 29-24 with 5 minutes left. Israel had given the Knights a brief 24-23 lead on 1-yard run to start the fourth quarter. Now he was hoping to guide the Knights back after two Bailey field goals 40, 37 yards put the Longhorns ahead 29-24.

Poised to pick up a first down, Israel punched a quarterback keeper forward on third and 1 from his 36-yard line. He got hit, twisted and as he fell to the groud, Texas junior Ryan Palmer knocked the ball loose and teammate Marcus Griffin recovered. Tribble yelled and pointed to the ground, "He was down!"

The officials disagreed, and on the next play Texas running back Jamaal Charles broke loose down the left sideline on his way to the winning 46-yard touchdown. Tribble turned away unfazed.

"In the heat of the moment, sure, I'd like to say my back was down," Israel said. "But I have no idea. I thought I had two hands on the ball."

Israel also threw an interception in the second quarter, a pass tipped by a UCF player and snatched by Texas senior Brandon Foster for a 33-yard return untouched into the end zone. Israel finished 9-for-26 passing for 134 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also rushed for 40 yards and a score.

"He managed the game pretty well I thought," O'Leary said. "He made some plays. If he didn't have the turnovers he would have had a great game."

Knights junior Kevin Smith rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns, including a 36-yard run in the third quarter to set himself up for a 3-yard score. It was his second consecutive game rushing more than 100 yards.

"What he was doing is that he was cutting back against us," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "Our guys were in the right place, we felt like we were playing good defense, he was making really good runs."

UCF (1-1) managed to stay with a team loaded with talent.

Longhorns sophomore quarterback Colt McCoy led Texas early with precise passing and strong running.

He threw a 6-yard touchdown to senior Nate Jones for a 10-7 lead in the first quarter. The running game was just as solid with Charles rushing for 153 yards and a touchdown.

UCF gave Texas (3-0) a good fight, and the Longhorns seemed to gain a bit of respect.

"It was a tough environment for us to play," McCoy said. "I give them credit. They stuck with it, and we never finished the game. We did at the end."

The Knights filed through the home tunnel, back to their locker room as the student section above chanted "U-C-F" celebrating a solid effort in their debut at their on-campus stadium. They did so against the No.6 team in the country and nearly pulled off the school's biggest upset.

"I'm not involved in moral victories," UCF coach George O'Leary said. "They go down as W's and L's, it doesn't say M in front of there."

Izzy Gould can be reached at izzygould@gmail.com or (727) 580-5315.

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Up next

UCF vs. Memphis, 3:30 p.m. Sept. 22, Orlando.

[Last modified September 15, 2007, 23:18:08]