Central Florida Overwhelms Idaho

The University of Idaho did as much damage to its chances of beating the University of Central Florida as the Golden Knights did Saturday night.

With an offense off-kilter with the loss of several key players, the Vandals were trounced 41-10 before a UCF record crowd of 41,827 in the Florida Citrus Bowl.

Idaho (2-2), which had just one turnover in its previous three games, had six against the Golden Knights. Of those, three led to touchdowns and one to a field goal as the Knights snapped the Vandals’ defensive streak of nine straight scoreless quarters.

“Number one, that’s a great football team,” Idaho coach Chris Tormey said of UCF, which led Nebraska last weekend before losing 38-24. “We knew we’d have to play as good as we’ve ever played to hang with this group, and we played about as badly as we’ve played.”

The Golden Knights, who moved from Division I-AA to I-A in 1996, picked up their first win of the year after tough road losses to Mississippi, South Carolina and Nebraska.

Idaho put forth a solid defensive effort, but as the second half ticked away, its time on the field, as well as the hot and humid conditions, began to take its toll as the Knights erupted for 17 fourth-quarter points to put the game out of reach.

Idaho suffered frequent offensive and special teams breakdowns, and UCF capitalized on four Vandals turnovers by scoring three touchdowns and a field goal. Idaho committed six turnovers, three of them on fumbled punt returns.

“Six turnovers … you have no chance,” said Tormey, whose team suffered its worst defeat since a 33-3 loss to McNeese State in the 1995 Division I-AA playoffs.

“Once the game got out of control, it snowballed.”

It was a game in which everything went UCF’s way as it opened its home season after an 0-3 start on the road. The best example of UCF’s good fortune was a drive that netted minus-2 yards but resulted in a field goal.

The Knights were led by one of the top quarterbacks in the nation, Daunte Culpepper. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound junior completed 19 of 30 passes and accounted for two touchdowns, one through the air and one on the ground. Idaho, however, intercepted him three times.

Culpepper’s first interception came on UCF’s first offensive play. Nick Alexakos snagged a short pass and gave Idaho a chance to gain some momentum.

However, on the Vandals’ second play from scrimmage, quarterback Brian Brennan was intercepted after his pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage. The interception was the first in 184 attempts for the Idaho senior this season.

The Vandals later squandered many scoring opportunities.

After the Alexakos interception, Idaho drove to UCF’s 1-yard line. However, a bobbled exchange from center Bill Verdonk to Brennan cost the Vandals a sure touchdown.

In the second quarter, Bobby Grey’s fumbled punt return set up UCF on its own 48-yard line. Culpepper scored 11 plays later on a 1-yard run for a 14-7 UCF lead.

Idaho’s offense, with its patchwork offensive line further depleted by the loss of Bob Horbaczewski to an ankle injury late last week, held its own although Brennan encountered a furious pass rush most of the game.

Brennan completed 18 of 38 passes for 204 yards and one touchdown. He was intercepted twice.

The Vandals scored first on a 28-yard pass play from Brennan to Antonio Wilson with 5:08 left in the first period.

“I’m not going to make excuses,” Tormey said. “We’ve got a long way to go to be a good football team.”

Idaho has a bye next weekend, then hosts North Texas at home Oct. 4. Kickoff is at 3 p.m.

UCF travels to play Southeastern Conference power Auburn.

C. Florida 41, Idaho 10

Idaho 7 3 0 0 - 10

Cent. Florida 7 14 3 17 - 41

UI-Wilson 28-yard pass from Brennan (Scott kick) 5:08

UCF-Grant 14-yard run (Waczewski kick) 1:40

UCF-Culpepper 1-yard run (Waczewski kick) 8:31

UCF-Grant 1-yard run (Waczewski kick) 3:36

UI-Scott 38-yard FG 00:04

UCF-Waczewski 44-yard FG 8:10

UCF-Grant 46-yard run (Waczewski kick) 13:17

UCF-Waczewski 39-yard FG 9:27

UCF-Grant 6-yard pass from Culpepper (Waczewski kick) 9:12

A41,827

UI UCF

First downs 17 17

Rushes-yards 26-68 41-166

Passing 204 226

Return Yards 28 24

Comp-Att-Int 18-39-2 19-33-3

Punts 0-00 0-00

Fumbles-Lost 6-250 5-204

Penalties-Yards 2-10 13-96

Time of Possession 28:06 31:54

RUSHING-UI, Thomas 15-44, Tenner 6-31, Brennan 3-(-11), Ah Hi 2-4. UCF, Grant 13-71, Culpepper 18-40, Leister 2-13, Collins 5-37, Thorpe 3-5. PASSING-UI, Brennan 18-38-2-204, Dean 0-1-0-00. UCF, Culpepper 19-30-3-226, Thorpe 0-3-0-00.

RECEIVING-UI, A. Wilson 7-77, Price 1-12, Prestimonica 4-43, Pankratz 2-34, Thomas 4-38. UCF, Moore 1-7, Lee 2-36, Burley 8-125, Grant 4-26, Cleveland 2-13, Collins 2-19.