UCF didn’t have a flawless defensive afternoon, but it did have the kind of takeaways that change a game. The Knights forced three interceptions in a 44-30 win over Georgia State, with senior defensive back Demari Henderson turning in the kind of all-around performance that can carry a unit.
Henderson was everywhere. After putting up six tackles and a tackle for loss against Pittsburgh, he followed that up with seven tackles, two interceptions and a pass defensed against Georgia State. His second pick ended the game and put the finishing touch on a career day for the Florida native.
UCF also got a strong showing from the middle of its defense, where Lewis Carter and Tackett Curtis kept showing up around the ball. Curtis finished with 10 tackles, while Carter added nine. Curtis also came away with his first takeaway as a Knight, intercepting a pass as UCF’s linebackers continued to set the tone.
Georgia State did move the ball at times, and quarterback Cameran Brown deserves credit for some of that. But the Panthers also gave UCF opportunities, and the Knights’ secondary made them pay when Brown forced a few throws he wanted back.
The Panthers ran for 203 yards, but most of that damage came on one 78-yard touchdown. Outside of that burst, UCF held up well enough in the trenches and kept Georgia State from finding steady success on the ground.
Jayden Williams was part of that effort in the back end too, finishing with six tackles. Taken together, UCF’s defensive backfield looked deep, fast and active from sideline to sideline.
Special teams also quietly did its job. Will Stone stayed perfect, hitting all five extra points and all three field goal tries. The 6-foot-2 senior connected from 40, 29 and 24 yards.
Atticus Bertrams made his presence felt as well, averaging more than 50 yards per punt in limited work. Georgia State didn’t return any of his kicks, a sign of how well he controlled field position when called upon.
UCF now turns to its Big 12 opener against TCU, with the teams set to meet Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Orlando.
In Other News...
TCU Gets Timely Boost As UCF Enters Big 12 Opener Shorthanded
TCU is set to get a useful piece back just as Big 12 play begins, with wide receiver Jordan Dwyer expected to return from a foot injury when the Horned Frogs meet UCF. Dwyer missed the first three games of the season, so his availability gives TCU a timely lift as it looks to open conference play with some momentum.
UCF, meanwhile, enters the matchup dealing with a significant change under center. Starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III is sidelined by a hamstring injury, and the Knights are expected to turn to Keyone Jenkins in his place. For a team trying to settle in quickly against a conference opponent, the timing of those injury updates adds another layer to a game already carrying plenty of early-season importance. [Read more 🡒]
UCF's Offense Just Created A Tough Big 12 Decision
UCFs offense looked a lot different in the win over Georgia State, and that was the point. With Alonza Barnett III sidelined, backup quarterback Keyone Jenkins stepped in and the Knights leaned hard into the run game, a formula that helped them control the day and leave with a 44-30 victory. Duke Watson was at the center of it, and the ground attack carried much of the load while UCF kept the ball in Jenkins hands enough to complement what was working.
The bigger question now shifts to the Big 12 opener against TCU, where the Knights will have to decide whether the same approach can travel against a tougher league opponent. Scott Frost has already settled the quarterback side of it, naming Jenkins the starter for next week, so the discussion is more about how much UCF can keep leaning on that rushing identity and whether the offense can keep finding answers with a limited passing volume. [Read more 🡒]
Scott Frost Got The UCF Response He Needed Before Big 12 Play
UCF left the field Saturday with more than a nonconference win, it left with a reminder of what a composed second half can look like. After falling behind at halftime, the Knights settled in and pulled away from Georgia State 44-30, a result Scott Frost pointed to as evidence the team handled adversity the right way before Big 12 play begins. He highlighted the defense and run game as the areas that steadied things after the break, which mattered as much as the final score for a team still looking to define itself early in the season.
Duke Watson gave that turnaround a real jolt with a career day on the ground, and Keyone Jenkins added three scores even if the passing game was uneven at times. The bigger picture for UCF is that the pieces looked more connected when the pressure tightened, which is exactly the kind of response Frost wanted to see before the schedule gets more demanding. There are still questions to sort through, but the Knights at least showed they can absorb a punch and finish with some force. [Read more 🡒]