After 30 minutes of AAC Conference play, UCF leads ECU 42-14 in their homecoming game.
The Knights did not hesitate to get going as sophomore quarterback McKenzie Milton threw a deep 48- yard ball to senior tight end Jordan Akins, just under two minutes into the game, to put the Knights up 7-0.
ECU’s first drive was not as efficient, as they failed to complete two of their three pass attempts before electing to punt. The Knights proved to be a consistent force with the ball in their hands once again, bringing the ball up from their own 25 for the score. Milton found defensive-end Jamiyus Pittman for the 4-yard score to go ahead 14-0. It was Milton’s 15th touchdown pass on the year.
Although ECU seemed shaken on the offensive side of things, freshman running back Darius Pinnix found some momentum and rushed for a huge 57-yard play. It was the biggest play UCF has given up on defense all season, and it brought the Pirates into the red zone, and as a result, sophomore wide receiver Deondre Fisher caught a 5-yard pass to make it 14-7.
UCF sophomore running back Adrian Killins wanted his turn, and ran in a 3-yard play to make it 21-7 on the next drive. And as if he had not shown off his skills enough, it was Milton next who waltzed into the end zone for a touchdown on the 1-yard line to extend the Knights lead even more.
The Pirates continued to struggle on offense, and red shirt junior Tre Neal capitalized with a 49-yard pick six to put the Knights up 35-7. ECU would go on to score once more before the half after a deep throw down the field brought them into the red zone.
With 40 seconds left in the half, junior running back Taj McGowan ran it in for the Knights to make it 42-14.
Milton has thrown for 291 yards, two touchdowns, and scored a touchdown himself, as UCF leads ECU 42-14 at the half.