BOWL HISTORY 2005 SHERATON HAWAII BOWL
NEVADA UCF DECEMBER 24, 2005 ALOHA STADIUM
49 48 HONOLULU, HAWAII
HONOLULU - UCF dropped a 49-48 overtime decision to Nevada in the 2005 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, the first bowl game in school history. The Knights finished the season with an 8-5 record, just one year after going 0-11. The turnaround of seven games from 2004 placed UCF tied with seven other schools for the fourth-best single-season turnaround in Football Bowl Subdivision history. UCF kicker Matt Prater, who had three field goals during the game, missed the game-tying extra point wide right, giving the Wolf Pack the win. B.J. Mitchell ran for 178 yards and two touchdowns, and Robert Hubbard had 126 yards rushing and three touchdowns for the Wolf Pack (9-3), who finished with their best season since 1996 and spoiled UCF’s bowl debut. UCF’s Brandon Marshall caught a 16-yard pass for a touchdown that tied the game at 42 with 55 seconds left. The score capped a four-play, 48-yard drive that took just 37 seconds. Prater booted a 46-yard field goal with 1:32 left to draw UCF to 42-35, and the Knights recovered the onside kick with no time-outs left, setting up Marshall’s dramatic catch that sent the game into overtime. Trailing 32-28, the Wolf Pack took the lead on Hubbard’s 5-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. Nevada scored again on Rowe’s 7-yard scoring pass to Travis Branzell for a 42-32 lead with 3:18 remaining. Kevin Smith, Conference USA’s Freshman of the Year, scored on a 78-yard run, the second longest run from scrimmage in UCF history, to give the Knights a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. The run was the longest in school history by a freshman and in UCF’s 10-year Football Bowl Subdivision history. The longest run from scrimmage in UCF history was Elgin Davis’ 79-yard scoring run vs. Samford (Nov. 15, 1986). The 78-yard touchdown run by Smith was the second-longest run by a true freshman in the NCAA during the year. It also marked the longest run in Sheraton Hawaii Bowl history.
Brandon Marshall 184
Kevin Smith
Paul Carrington
OT
SHERATON HAWAII BOWL POSTGAME NOTES Team Notes • UCF dropped a 49-48 overtime decision to Nevada in the 2005 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl and finished the season with an 8-5 record, just one year after going 0-11. The turnaround of seven games from 2004 left UCF tied with seven other schools for the fourth-best single-season turnaround in Football Bowl Subdivision history. • The bowl appearance was the first in school history for the Knights. • The loss dropped UCF’s all-time record in overtime games to 0-4. • UCF scored for the seventh time this season on its opening drive. Junior QB Steven Moffett tossed a 51-yard touchdown pass to senior WR Brandon Marshall to give UCF a 7-0 lead. The touchdown reception was the ninth of the season for Marshall. • UCF scored 17 points in the first quarter, the most by the Knights in the opening period of play in 2005. Player Notes • Brandon Marshall moved into a tie for sixth place in UCF single-season history with three receiving touchdowns vs. Nevada, bringing his season total to 11. Marshall opened the scoring with a 51-yard reception on UCF’s first possession and closed out regulation with a late touchdown to send the game to overtime. • True freshman TB Kevin Smith, Conference USA’s Freshman of the Year, scored on a 78-yard run, the second longest run from scrimmage in UCF history, to give the Knights a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. The run was the longest in school history by a freshman and in UCF’s 10-year Division I-A history. The longest run from scrimmage in UCF history was Elgin Davis’ 79-yard scoring run vs. Samford (Nov. 15, 1986). • The 78-yard touchdown run by Smith was the second-longest run by a true freshman in the NCAA during the season. It also marked the longest run in Sheraton Hawaii Bowl history. • Smith became just the sixth player in school history to record a 1,000-yard season on the ground. Smith ended the season with 1,178 yards, third in the UCF record books. • Marshall became the 10th player in UCF history to reach the 1,000-yard plateau for receiving in a season. Marshall went over the century mark with his 51-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. He ended the season with 1,195 yards receiving and seven 100-yard games. • Senior PK Matt Prater kicked three field goals to move into sole possession of second place in UCF history with 49 career field goals. • Thirteen members of the UCF football team had their collegiate careers come to an end at the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. Seniors Jeff Branham, John Brown, Mike Graham, Darcy Johnson, Frisner Nelson, Mike Malatesta, Antonio Eldemire, Glenroy Watkins, Anthony Willis, Matt Prater and tri-captains James Cook, Paul Carrington and Brandon Marshall suited up for the final time for the Knights.
James Cook
BOX SCORE Nevada UCF
7 17
21 3
1st 13:20 UCF 9:24 UCF 8:33 NEV 4:08 UCF 2nd 11:32 NEV 7:37 NEV 5:01 NEV 0:56 UCF 3rd 8:19 UCF 1:51 UCF 4th 13:02 NEV 3:18 NEV 1:32 UCF 0:55 UCF OT 15:00 NEV 15:00 UCF
Marshall 51 pass from Moffett (Prater kick) Smith 78 run (Prater kick) Hubbard 4 run (Jaekle kick) Prater 47 field goal Mitchell 1 run (Jaekle kick) Mitchell 1 run (Jaekle kick) Hubbard 24 run (Jaekle kick) Prater 38 field goal Marshall 29 pass from Moffett (Moffett pass failed) Smith 3 run (Moffett pass failed) Hubbard 5 run (Jaekle kick) Branzell 7 pass from Rowe (Jaekle kick) Prater 46 field goal Marshall 16 pass from Moffett (Prater kick) Rowe 4 run (Jaekle kick) Smith 19 run (Prater kick failed)
First Downs Rushes-Yds Passing Yds Passes Comp.-Att.-Int. Total Offense Plays-Yds Fumble Returns-Yards Punt Returns-Yards Kickoff Returns-Yards INT Returns-Yards Punts (Number-Avg) Fumbles-Lost Penalties-Yards
0 12
14 10
NEV 30 51-369 254 32-22-1 83-623 0-0 1-2 1-16 1-36 3-44.0 1-1 10-92
7 6
-
49 48
UCF 30 44-254 301 36-19-1 80-555 1-0 0-0 5-74 1-12 3-38.3 0-0 6-30
RUSHING: Nevada-B.J. Mitchell 23-178; Robert Hubbard 15-126; Jeff Rowe 13-65. UCF-SMITH, Kevin 29-202; PETERS, Jason 9-44; MOFFETT, Steven 6-8. PASSING: Nevada-Jeff Rowe 22-32-1-254. UCF-MOFFETT, Steven 19-36-1-301. RECEIVING: Nevada-Caleb Spencer 11-114; N. Flowers 6-96; A. Pudewell 2-23; Kyle Sammons 1-8; Travis Branzell 1-7; Robert Hubbard 1-6. UCF-MARSHALL, Brandon 11-210; JOHNSON, Darcy 3-49; PETERS, Jason 2-14; ROSS, Rocky 1-14; JACKSON, Kenny 1-12; SMITH, Kevin 1-2. INTERCEPTIONS: Nevada-DeAngelo Wilson 1-36. UCF-VENSON, Jason 1-12. FUMBLES: Nevada-Robert Hubbard 1-1. UCF-None. Stadium: Aloha Attendance: 26,254
Darcy Johnson 185