Say Good Knight to Keenum, Houston

ORLANDO, Fla. - Good Knight, Case.

Case Keenum's late-game dramatics -- not to mention his Heisman Trophy consideration -- wilted under a brilliant Florida sun and an inspired Central Florida defense Saturday afternoon. Despite throwing two touchdowns in the closing minutes, Keenum and 13th-ranked Houston ran out of time in their 37-32 defeat to a band of merry Knights who clinched the program's first win over a nationally-ranked team.

"Whether it was making mistakes or them playing really hard ... they did a good job of covering down field and putting pressure on me," said Keenum, who had led Houston to consecutive victories over Southern Miss and Tulsa last week on last-minute scoring drives.

"We could never get it going."

The game pitted Houston's strength (No. 1 in the nation in pass offense and scoring) against UCF's biggest weakness (No. 114 in the nation against the pass). Advantage, Knights, who helped a small but boisterous crowd of 34,437 celebrate homecoming in sunny, 75-degree style at Bright House Networks Stadium.

Certainly not forgotten in the equation was that UCF (6-4) entered leading Conference USA in total defense and fewest points allowed despite its struggles against the pass.

And let's also not forget crafty veteran Knights coach George O'Leary, whose team is bowl eligible for the third time in four years and remains in Conference USA contention.

On Friday night, O'Leary showed his team highlight clips of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, explaining how the three-time World Heavyweight champion could throw a punch, take a punch and overcome adversity. The Cougars (8-2), who no longer control their destiny in Conference USA's West Division, ended up on their haunches.


Keenum, ranked a close second in three of four Heisman straw polls conducted by ESPN, USA Today Scripps Howard and CBSSports.com and fourth in USA Today's version, finished 33 of 56 for 377 yards and three scores.

Keenum, who had more than 500 yards in each of the previous two games, threw for 325 of his 377 yards in the first and fourth quarters.

"Give them credit for knowing their stuff and playing hard against us," Keenum said, pushing back a faded,worn Houston cap.

Actually, that was an oft-repeated theme from the Cougars.

Frustrated players credited the Knights, dressed in new black jerseys, for playing with more effort and emotion.

UCF trailed 10-0 and 17-3 midway in the second quarter before it scored 20 unanswered points and played keep away with the Cougars' normally quick-strike offense. The Knights held a huge advantage in time of possession (39:30 to 20:30, and Houston only ran four plays in the second quarter) and committed just one penalty.

"They were flying around to the ball," said Houston receiver Tyron Carrier, who had nine receptions for 149 yards and two scores.

"They acted like they wanted it, and we couldn't hold them back. They were rushing our quarterback, getting to our screens. They did a good job of preparing for us. We were fired up to play; we kind of started laying down a little bit. A good team sees a team laying down, they are going to come back and pull out the win, and that's what they did."

Carrier sighed, and continued.

"I really don't know what it was," he said. "If a team wanted it more than the other team, the team that wants it the most is going to get it. That's what they did. The game plan was great; it's just on us as a team. We didn't execute. You don't want to give any team at home something to cheer."

The Knights had plenty to cheer.

Knights running back Brynn Harvey rushed for 139 yards -- his fourth career 100-yard game -- and a career-high three rushing touchdowns.

Quarterback Brett Hodges, a transfer from Wake Forest and a Florida native, completed 21 of 25 passes and tossed 12 consecutive completions at one point. He recorded the highest completion percentage in a game for his career (84.0) and out-played the Heisman hopeful in the process.

"That was the plan going in, and it really just came down to execution," Hodges said.

"We controlled the ball because we executed."

And let's not forget about UCF's defense, anchored by a small but athletic line and a young secondary that refused to blink. The unit was torched last week by Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, who threw for 470 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-7 non-conference romp.

When Justin Boddie picked off Keenum in the fourth quarter, it ended his streak of 123 straight passes without an interception.

"They out-played us; flat out-played us," said disgruntled Houston right guard Chris Thompson.

"Mostly, they just gave good effort at what they did. They were pretty good up front -- we knew that coming in. They threw a couple blitzes in, a couple slants -- but that wasn't the problem -- they out-played us out front. Had a real good plan coming into the game.

"When we turn on film Monday ... the team that played harder than the other team ... and it seemed like they played off the crowd and emotion and had things going their way."





Houston also suffered three turnovers in the game, and not even Keenum's late-game dramatics were enough to save the day.

"I thought they did some things physically ... they turned it into a physical game and we didn't respond the way we should have," Houston coach Kevin Sumlin said.

"I didn't see anyone quit or anything like that, that's not it. In a game like that, where there's a contrast of styles, turnovers become important with ball-possession offense. When it's a physical game you have to match that play, I didn't think we matched it consistently all day."