Knights expect a strong 2011-2012 season
UCF may have its first air war in recent memory when the Knights face Marshall on Saturday. And the return of the Knights’ passing game couldn’t come at a better time. The last time the Knights were as prolific going long range, they used it to trounce the Thundering Herd.
Though UCF having a big game in the air may be hard to remember, it’ll be hard to forget that wild November night in 2009.
The Knights trailed the Herd for all but three minutes and 22 seconds of that game. But in the final 10 minutes, the Knights would go on a pair of wild drives that would take them into the end zone twice to seal a massive 21-20 comeback win over their biggest rival.
That night, in the only season he would play in a UCF uniform, Wake Forest transfer quarterback Brett Hodges lit up the sky for 342 yards under intense pressure from the Thundering Herd. He was sacked three times in that game while connecting on 23 of 45 passes downfield. There was no telling whom his target would be, spread out among seven receivers.
A.J. Guyton was one of two members of the receiving corps to play that night who still wears a UCF uniform this season. He hauled in 100 yards of receptions in that game two seasons ago.
In the Knights most recent game against BYU on Sept. 23, Guyton was the biggest target again, hauling in nine passes en route to 163 yards receiving. That night, UCF’s offense saw more yards in the air than any game this season, with quarterbacks Jeff Godfrey and Blake Bortles airing it out for 318 yards.
Both of them are likely to see playing time against Marshall, if the first four games are any indication. And they’ll need to go to the air to take advantage of Marshall’s severely lopsided defense.
The Herd gave up 221 yards in the air against Louisville, 229 against Virginia Tech, 288 against Ohio, 309 against Southern Miss and 249 against West Virginia. In three of those games, they allowed 70 or fewer rushing yards.
Meanwhile, Marshall has showed some air power of its own, with quarterback Rakeem Cato averaging 206 yards passing per game, compared to the Knights’ 232-yard average.
The air game could turn out to be a curse if the Knights can’t also mobilize their run game. The Knights haven’t lost a game in which they rushed for more yards than they passed since Sept. 25, 2010, when they lost a 17-13 heartbreaker at Kansas State after rushing for 252 yards and passing for 92.
The game has been moved to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, still in Orlando. It’ll be broadcast on Bright House Sports Network.