University of Houston
3-6 , 1-4
UCF
7-2 , 4-1
Car Leads Houston at UCF on Saturday
11/2/2019 2:54:00 PM | Football
Senior running back posts 123 rushing yards and two touchdowns
The Cougars jumped out to a 17-7 lead late in the first quarter after Car's two scores and a 45-yard field goal from Dalton Witherspoon, the first of three first-half field goals from the junior kicker.
Unfortunately, UCF scored touchdowns on three straight possessions in the third quarter to build a lead it would never relinquish.
Sophomore quarterback Clayton Tune threw for 179 yards with a touchdown and interception, while sophomore receiver Tre'von Bradley added four catches with 90 yards.
Defensive end Derek Parish led the Houston defense with five tackles with four solo stops, one for a loss.
UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel posted 298 passing yards with three touchdowns with receiver Tre Nixon hauling in six catches for 123 yards and a pair of scores to lead the Knights.
The Cougars wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard. Electing to receive the opening kickoff, the Cougars quickly marched 75 yards in six plays and grabbed a 7-0 lead when senior running back Mulbah Car raced into the end zone from 37 yards out with 12:04 left in the opening period.
The Austin native extended the Cougars' opening drive with an 8-yard rushing on 3rd-and-5 from the Houston 30.
After both teams traded punts, the Cougars moved the ball into UCF territory and grabbed a 10-0 lead when junior kicker Dalton Witherspoon a field goal from 45 yards out with 5:29 remaining.
UCF cut the deficit to 10-7 on Marlon Williams' 6-yard touchdown pass from Dillon Gabriel with 4:07 remaining in the first quarter.
The score didn't stay that way long. Tune hit sophomore wide receiver Tre'von Bradley on a 63-yard pass to move deep into UCF territory and, after a UCF personal foul, Car plunged into the end zone from two yards out for a 17-7 Houston lead with 2:13 left.
UCF moved to within 17-14 on Gabriel's 32-yard touchdown pass to Tre Nixon with 48 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The Knights took advantage of a Houston turnover and grabbed their first lead on Gabriel's 22-yard rush with 9:16 left in the first half.
On the ensuing possession, the Cougars used a 41-yard field goal from Witherspoon on the final play of the first half to take a 23-21 lead into the locker room at the break.
Both teams punted to start the second half, and UCF regained the lead for good on its second possession of the second half on Bentavious Thompson's 43-yard touchdown run with 10:10 remaining in the third quarter.
The Cougars were forced to punt again on their next possession, and Dillon hit Nixon on a 34-yard touchdown to take a 35-23 lead with 5:58 remaining in the third.
After a Houston punt, Thompson's second rushing touchdown of the game gave UCF a 42-23 lead with 40 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
The scored remained that way until late in the fourth quarter. The Cougars were forced to punt, but the kick went off UCF's Elijah Benoit's arm and was recovered by the Cougars' Jordan Moore at the UCF 19. Seven plays later, Tune connected with wide receiver Jeremy Singleton in the back of the end zone to move to within 42-29 with 2:52 left.
UCF recovered the ensuing onside kick and after punting and pinning the Cougars at their 3-yard line, took advantage of a safety with 1:34 remaining in the game for the final margin of victory.
UP NEXT
Following their open weekend, the Cougars returns to the friendly confines of TDECU Stadium to play host to Memphis on Nov. 16 during its annual Homecoming contest. Game time and network for that game will be announced soon.
Tickets are available any time by visiting UHCougars.com/tickets and following the appropriate links or by calling the Athletics Ticket Office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.
Team Stats
HOU 7, UCF 0
HOU - CAR, Mulbah 37 yd run (WITHERSPOON, Da kick), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:56
HOU 10, UCF 0
HOU - WITHERSPOON, Da 45 yd field goal 7 plays, 27 yards, TOP 3:40
HOU 10, UCF 7
UCF - WILLIAMS, Mar. 6 yd pass from GABRIEL, Dillon (BARNAS, Dylan kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:22
HOU 17, UCF 7
HOU - CAR, Mulbah 2 yd run (WITHERSPOON, Da kick), 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:54
HOU 17, UCF 14
UCF - NIXON, Tre 32 yd pass from GABRIEL, Dillon (BARNAS, Dylan kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:25
HOU 17, UCF 21
UCF - GABRIEL, Dillon 22 yd run (BARNAS, Dylan kick), 6 plays, 98 yards, TOP 1:10
HOU 20, UCF 21
HOU - WITHERSPOON, Da 37 yd field goal 10 plays, 58 yards, TOP 5:16
HOU 23, UCF 21
HOU - WITHERSPOON, Da 41 yd field goal 7 plays, 43 yards, TOP 2:57
HOU 23, UCF 28
UCF - THOMPSON, Ben. 43 yd run (BARNAS, Dylan kick), 3 plays, 50 yards, TOP 0:33
HOU 23, UCF 35
UCF - NIXON, Tre 34 yd pass from GABRIEL, Dillon (BARNAS, Dylan kick) 4 plays, 37 yards, TOP 1:55
HOU 23, UCF 42
UCF - THOMPSON, Ben. 2 yd run (BARNAS, Dylan kick), 7 plays, 73 yards, TOP 2:11
HOU 29, UCF 42
HOU - SINGLETON, Jere 8 yd pass from TUNE, Clayton (TUNE, Clayton passfailed) 7 plays, 19 yards, TOP 2:41
HOU 29, UCF 44
UCF - HAYES, Brendon 3 yd safety
