AMERICAN ATHLETIC
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 15,
CENTRAL FLORIDA 14
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Imarjaye Albury blocked a 47-yard field goal attempt by Central Florida freshman Matthew Wright in the closing seconds, and Florida International held on to beat the Knights 15-14 on Thursday night.
FIU trailed 14-3 at the half, but shut out UCF in the second half to snap a string of three straight season-opening losses.
Golden Panthers sophomore Alex McGough was steady, completing 29 of 38 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown. Alex Gardner rushed for 75 yards and a score.
UCF had a chance to take the lead in the final minute, driving inside the FIU 30 before a false-start penalty pushed Wright's kick back 5 yards.
The loss ends a 10-game home win streak for the Knights, which was the second-longest in school history.
Leading 14-9 in the third quarter, UCF turned it over on downs at the FIU 2 when Justin Holman bobbled the snap from center Joey Grant.
The Panthers went to the air, and McGough connected on back-to-back passes of 47 and 23 yards to Ya'keem Griner to get FIU inside the red zone.
Griner then capped the 80-yard drive by catching a deflection in the end zone to put the Panthers in front 15-14 with just under 13 minutes to play following a failed conversion run.
UCF went three-and-out to open the game, setting up a long FIU drive that ended with a 28-yard field goal by Austin Taylor.
The Panthers forced another punt on UCF's next possession, but gave it back two plays later when Gardner was stripped from behind by linebacker Chequan Burkett. The ball was recovered near the sideline by Knights safety Drico Johnson inside the Panthers 30.
UCF took advantage, and Holman connected with sophomore receiver Jordan Akins in the corner of the end zone five plays later from 9 yards out to put the Knights in front 7-3 late in the first quarter.
Following an FIU punt, Holman and Akins hooked up again for a 33-yard score to cap a seven-play, 70-yard drive.
Holman had one of his more productive games, completing 23 of 34 passes for 249 yards and the two touchdowns. But he also was constantly under pressure late in the game and was sacked twice.
UCF rushed 30 times for just 46 yards.
WAKE FOREST 41, ELON 3
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- John Wolford passed for three touchdowns and ran 70 yards for another score, and Wake Forest opened by routing FCS member Elon.
Wolford was 20 of 27 for a career-high 323 yards and threw touchdowns covering 10 yards to Cam Serigne, 30 yards to Cortez Lewis and 27 yards to Chuck Wade before exiting in the third quarter.
The Demon Deacons are above .500 for the first time in second-year coach Dave Clawson's tenure and set highs for points, total yards (591) and yards rushing (203) under him.
Freshman Matt Colburn had a 2-yard rushing touchdown and Mike Weaver kicked field goals of 28 and 32 yards.
John Gallagher kicked a 45-yard field goal for the Phoenix, who had just 151 total yards. Picked last in the CAA, they were down by 24 points before they crossed midfield for the first time.
UCONN 20, VILLANOVA 15
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. -- Bryant Shirreffs threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns in his first start and UConn held off Villanova from the championship subdivision in the season opener for both teams.
Tight end Tommy Myers had a 14-yard touchdown catch on UConn's opening drive and set up a touchdown on the first drive of the second half with a 69-yard catch and run.
Ron Johnson ran 23 times for 69 yards and a score for the Huskies and Arkeel Newsome took a middle-screen pass 27-yards for a touchdown with just under 5 minutes left that proved to be the game winner.
Villanova quarterback Jon Robertson, last season's offensive player of the year in the FCS, completed 17 of 32 passes for 153-yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 66 yards and another score.
The Wildcats converted 9 of 17 third-down attempts, but came up short on a key fourth-and inches in the fourth quarter, when Robertson bobbled the snap at the UConn 36.
OKLAHOMA STATE 24, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 13
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Mason Rudolph threw for one touchdown and ran for another as Oklahoma State came from behind to beat Central Michigan in the season opener for both teams.
The Cowboys were just the fifth Power Five conference school in the last 20 years to visit Kelly/Shorts Stadium, and had to work hard to avoid becoming the first one to lose.
They trailed 13-10 in the third quarter and never showed the physical dominance that a Big 12 team would expect against a Mid-American Conference opponent.
Central Michigan coach John Bonamego was making his debut just 13 days after his final radiation treatment for tonsil cancer. The Chippewas had more total yards in the first three quarters, but Oklahoma State was finally able to adjust to their screen-heavy offense.
The Cowboys drove 83 yards in 12 plays, Rudolph hitting Marcell Ateman for an 18-yard score and the 24-13 lead.
Sports on 09/04/2015