UCF lost a tough one Saturday night to the North Carolina State Wolf Pack 28-21. The news of the night would be Rob Calabrese’s benching for Freshman Jeff Godfrey. After throwing 2 interceptions and looking weak at the helm, the junior was pulled from the game for the freshman Godfrey. Calabrese looked good last week and played with a lot of tenacity and heart, this week not so much.
We knew going into this one that the North Carolina State defense was better then South Dakotas from a week ago. The linebackers of NC State are way faster and Sam LB Audie Cole is a real standout, grabbing a pick and a sack in the game.
Quincy McDuffie’s clutch kick return for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter would be the second of his career and a much-needed shot of adrenaline, finally putting UCF on the board. The vibrations from the fans at Brighthouse Networks stadium where euphoric and the D would hold strong as the rafters, forcing a punt. Rob Calabrese completed a 35-yard pass to Brian Waters but UCF was unable to capitalize missing the 46-yard field goal attempt.
The UCF Defense played tough again and looked impressive in the second half, going into the 3rd quarter down 21-7. After halftime (I got no cookie this week, by the way) North Carolina State QB Russell Wilson was disrupted several times almost being intercepted twice in the first drive of the half (and I mean both times he should’ve been picked). Bruce Miller finally got his 1st sack of the year and 28th of his career, in the same drive ending with an NC State punt.
The UCF Knights almost looked good, almost. If their offense would’ve played as well as their defense and special teams UCF would’ve won this one, but they didn’t. The Rob Calabrese lead offense was just painful to watch, thus coach O’Leary changed the channel to ‘the J-God and JD show’. This would prove to be at very least, a good demonstration that Jeff Godfrey could maybe one day lead this offense, um… maybe.
Godfrey with help from running back Jonathan Davis managed to push the Golden Knights up the field twice bringing the game within 7 points. UCF would get the ball one more time but with 51 seconds left in the game UCF would turnover the ball for a 5th time, putting the nail in the coffin for the Golden Knights.
