Since 2017, UCF has been inviting opponents into SPC Mortgage Stadium to participate in its annual Space Game. Opposing teams should perhaps think twice about accepting that invitation. That’s because the Knights, or the throwback mascot, the Citronauts, utilized just for this one game, have one every single time.
They are now a perfect 8-0 in Space Games after throttling Arizona, 56-12, on Saturday, Nov. 12 in front of a crowd of 42,110.
The annual Space Game commemorates the University of Central Florida’s roots. Founded in 1963 as Florida Technological University, its mission included providing personnel to support the growing space programs at the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station before expanding to engineering and technology and a name change to the University of Central Florida in 1978.
According to the athletic department, the 50-yard line at FBC Mortgage Stadium lines up on the exact latitude as Launch Complex 39A, NASA’s most historic launchpad, 31 miles to the east. In addition, 29 percent of Kennedy Space Center employees are UCF alumni.
The Space Game seems to bring out the best in UCF football. In eight such games, the Knights, aka Citronauts, have outscored their opponents 405-159, which translates to an average margin of victory of 30.7 points per triumph.
They exceeded even that on Saturday, launching a 28-0 lead en route to a 35-point first half and scored on seven consecutive possessions that carried over into the second half.
The victory broke a five-game losing streak for UCF, now 4-5 for the season and 2-4 in Big 12 conference play.
“I’m extremely proud of our players,” said UCF head coach Gus Malzahn. “We went through an extremely tough stretch; they hung in there.”
Malzahn made coaching changes leading up to the game, bringing back defensive coordinator Addison Williams and relinquishing play calling duties to first-year offensive coordinator Tim Harris, Jr.
“Tim Harris did an unbelievable job today leading our offense,” he said. “Coach Addison Williams did an unbelievable job leading out defense. It was just a completely different feel on the sidelines. Our players really responded well to them.”
Quarterback Dylan Rizk threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start, and running back RJ Harvey added 184 yards rushing, the third-highest of his career, and three more scores in the rout.
“It’s a big deal for the fans and UCF as a whole,” Harvey said of the annual special game. “We’ve never lost one and I just told the guys that we have to play our best and let the fans have something to celebrate.”
Rizk completed 20 of 25 passes, including a 48-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to Randy Pittman, Jr., to end the first half with UCF holding a 35-6 advantage. Rizk threw to Pittman, Jr. again in the fourth quarter for a 1-yard touchdown that completed the scoring. In between that, Rizk also tossed a 40-yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Jones, who led all receivers with 106 yards on five receptions. Pittman, Jr. finished with five catches for 80 yards.
The 602 total yards of offense are a season-high for the Big 12, and UCF recorded a team season-high 33 first downs.
Harvey added to his stellar career at UCF with his 14th 100-yard game, lifting his season total to 1,201 rushing yards. He is second on the Knights’ all-time rushing list with 3,416 yards.
“It means a lot,” Harvey said of the accomplishment. “It’s going to be hard to get the No. 1 spot, but I’m going to try to get it. Keep going hard each game and just see what happens.”
He also praised the offensive line for an outstanding performance.
“They all blocked extremely well today,” Harvey said. “I’m proud of those guys, they work hard every single day. It’s a great group of guys and I love being around them. I felt like it was just an all-around great effort for the offense.” Harvey said.
The fifth-year senior scored on first-half rushing touchdowns of 17 and 18 yards, the latter capping a 12-play, 99-yard drive, before adding a 19-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter that increased the lead to 42-6. He now has 37 career touchdowns, tied for third-most in UCF history.
Jacurri Brown put UCF on the scoreboard initially with a 4-yard run and the floodgates were opened. Myles Montgomery tacked on a 5-yard touchdown run during a 21-point second-quarter barrage.
The UCF defense was equally impressive, holding Arizona to just 5 yards rushing and recorded four sacks, two by Malachi Lawrence. Ricky Barber contributed 1.5 sacks totaling 17 yards in losses.
Ethan Barr led the team in tackles with 10 and now has a team-high 47 total tackles for the season. Included in Barr’s stellar performance on Saturday were seven solo stops, one tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery.
Arizona (3-6, 1-5) scored on a pair of touchdown passes from quarterback Noah Fifita. His 28-yard scoring pass to Sam Olson was in answer to UCF’s initial 28-point outburst. Fifita, who completed 24 of 38 passes for 256 yards, also found Tetairoa McMillan on a 2-yard touchdown pass midway through the third quarter that cut the UCF lead to 42-12.
Chris Hunter led the Arizona receiving corps with 102 yards on 7 receptions, and McMillan finished with six catches for 84 yards.
