UCF Win Against Slumping Buffalo Bulls
November 10, 2002
Kevin Deutsch
Knightsnews Staff Writer
Coming into Saturday’s game at Buffalo Stadium, there were questions as to whether or not UCF would be able to adjust to the cold temperatures and get the job done against the slumping Bulls.
“I don’t care if the snow is blowing horizontally,” said Knights Coach Mike Kruczek about his teams journey into Buffalo. “Great teams are able to focus and play regardless of the situation.”
If the fifty-eight degree temperature was bothersome, UCF quarterback Ryan Schneider certainly didn’t let on. He completed 25 of 43 passes for 360 yards, including five touchdown tosses and a 1-yard scoring run. All five touchdowns were thrown to different receivers, keeping the Buffalo defense off-balance and allowing the Knights to come away with an important 45-21 win.
The 1-8 Bulls have struggled all season, but Coach Kruczek knew that he could not let his teams intensity be decided by the opponents.
“You have to play up to your optimum level, not down to somebody’s level,” said Kruczek.
The Knights were slow starters on Saturday, and led by just seven at the half. Second-half letdowns had been a consistent theme for UCF, but the Knights came out fired up for the third-quarter. After Buffalo took the lead in the third, the UCF offense quickly tied the score, and never looked back.
“We’ve lost ball games on a number of occasions because we don’t finish,” said Kruczek.
The Knights did more than finish on Saturday, managing to stay alive in the MAC East race. Kruczek cited the conference race as a major motivating tool for his team’s play Saturday, and there were a slew of players who came up big in the must-win game.
Elton Patterson added another sack to his season total, and is now just two sacks away from tying the UCF record held by Darrell Rudd.
Jimmy Fryzel set a personal record Saturday, catching a career high eight passes for 122 yards. It was Fryzel’s thirtieth consecutive game with at least one catch, tying him for fourth all-time at UCF.
Ryan Schneider extended his streak of games with at least one touchdown pass to 18, second only to Dante Culpeppers’ streak of 22.
The Knights return to the Citrus Bowl next Saturday to face Kent State, in search of their fifth win of the season, and more importantly, a chance to stay alive in the MAC race.