East Carolina drops third straight conference game

The University of Central Florida ranked at No. 22 in the country showed no mercy in its 63-21 point thrashing of East Carolina University on Saturday.

ECU appeared to be ready in the first quarter, but the Knights offensive fire power was too much for the Pirates.

The Pirates were down 14-0 before they scored their first touchdown of the game with a five yard touchdown pass from Thomas Sirk to Deandre Farrior. The scoring drive was set up by a 57-yard run from running back Darius Pinnix, to get into UCF’s territory.

After earning their first touchdown of the game, the Pirates did not see the end zone just before half with a pass from Sirk to breakout receiver Davon Grayson. While ECU’s offense went stagnant, UCF took advantage of East Carolina’s inability to finish games.

The Knights scored 28 more points before the third quarter getting behind both their offense and defense. UCF’s quarterback Mckenzie Milton and running backs Adrian Killins Jr. and Taj McGowan did not hold back on offense combining for five touchdowns in the first half. The defense for UCF showed up as well, with 50-yard interception return for a touchdown by defensive back Tre Neal off Sirk.

With the score being 42-14 at the start of the third quarter, the Knights did not take their foot off the Pirates’ throat. Midway through the third quarter, UCF athlete Mike Hughes and the special teams turned an average punt return into to a 66-yard touchdown, giving the Knights a seven touchdown lead.

The Pirates found the end zone one last time before the game was over with wide receiver Tahj Deans catching his first career touchdown from quarterback Gardner Minshew. Sirk was pulled from the game after a subpar start, completing only nine of his 21 passes while he was in the game for 91 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

On the flip side the Knights did not skip a beat with Milton going 21-27 for 324 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. UCF also added five other touchdowns on the ground with a score from Milton, Killins Jr., McGowan, McCrae and Vedral.

The Knights held the Pirates in check not allowing a single quarterback, running back or wide receiver eclipse 100 yards on the day. ECU now falls to (1-6) on the season and (1-3) in AAC play, while UCF sits at the top of the American at (5-0, 3-0 AAC).