RJ Harvey takes off in UCF’s season-opening rout of New Hampshire
UCF coach Gus Malzahn said Thursday’s season-opener against New Hampshire would say more about the Knights than their opponent.
While the boxscore says UCF came away with a 57-3 win over the Wildcats, its ninth straight win in season openers, the intangibles said more about this team.
UCF improved to 35-10 all-time in season openers, with the Knights having won nine consecutive since 2016.
Tailback RJ Harvey picked up where he left off last season, rushing for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns. It was his third straight 100-yard rushing performance for the fifth-year senior, dating to last season.
Colton Boomer connected on a pair of early field goals (25, 44) to give UCF a 6-0 advantage.
Linebacker Deshawn Pace, a transfer from Cincinnati, picked off Seth Morgan’s pass intended for receiver Joey Corcoran at the start of the second quarter. Pace, who welcomed a daughter a few weeks ago, returned the ball 37 yards to NHU’s 3-yard line.
Quarterback KJ Jefferson barreled into the end zone for the season’s first touchdown, pushing the lead to 13-0.
After forcing a three-and-out on New Hampshire’s next possession, safety Ladarius Tennison burst through the line and blocked Sean Lehane’s punt attempt from the Wildcats’ 18. The ball rolled into the end zone for a safety.
It was the first blocked punt by the Knights since Sept. 24, 2022, against Georgia Tech and the first safety since Oct. 29, 2022, against Cincinnati.
Jefferson missed his first four passes before connecting with Harvey on an 8-yard screen pass with 2:24 left in the first quarter. His second completion, a 15-yard pass to Kobe Hudson, didn’t occur until 3:08 in the second quarter.
The fifth-year quarterback threw his first touchdown as a Knight midway in the third quarter when he found running back Myles Montgomery, who raced 49 yards for a score. He added a 22-yard touchdown pass to Johnny Richardson.
Jefferson finished 7 of 14 for 164 yards with 2 touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed 11 times for 39 yards and a score.
Matt Murschel can be reached at moc.lenitnesodnalro@lehcsrumm
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