The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • Page 47

C-11 METRO The Orlando Sentinel, Sunday, October 13, 1996 Culpepper welcomes a cakewalk if ff3 fl 1 OfiSlimim Jilt. vs. lCr Daunte Culpepper posted modest numbers but got the job done after getting roughed up in September. By Tim Turner OF THE SENTINEL STAFF Central Florida's all-around success in the kicking game actually began before the Golden Knights' victory when coach Gene McDowell was talking to Samford coach Pete Hurt on the field. The subject of deep snapping and successful punting came up, a delicate point with Hurt because his Bulldogs had already had three punts blocked this season primarily because of bad snaps.

"Pete told me it had been a real problem for them," McDowell said, "and I said to him, 'Yeah, we McDowell's warning didn't help Hurt Reginald Doster set up the Knights for an easy touchdown by sacking Samford punter Mike Healey in the second period after a high snap. the second for a score in UCF's opening drive. "That was really good to see from him," Cleveland said. "I talked to him this week. I told him you can't let it get you down, because we have more games to go and it ain't over yet." Culpepper's 37-yard pass play to Mark Nonsant on the Knights' next possession keyed a drive capped by Mike Grant's 40-yard touchdown run.

And he made it 3-for-3 on scoring drives by guiding his team from its 41-yard line to the Bulldogs' 17, where Charlie Pierce kicked a 34-yard field goal to give UCF a 38-6 lead. Culpepper left for good after UCF's first drive of the fourth quarter. "That's what I'm supposed to do," Culpepper said. "We were trying to take what they give us. That's what the coaches really were harping on making smart decisions, like not throwing into double coverage.

"But I made a couple of bad plays in the first half, and I knew I had to come back from them." tory, Culpepper said he needed it just as badly. "September was the hardest month of my life," Culpepper said. "It was a great confidence booster for me and the team to come out and win big." With Todd Cleveland setting the tone on a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to start the game, the outcome never was in doubt. And had the Knights taken full advantage of Samford's woeful kicking game, the margin of victory easily could have been much greater. Culpepper blamed himself, citing his two first-half interceptions, for missed opportunities.

But UCF offensive coordinator Mike Kruczek wouldn't hear any of that. He was pleased with his quarterback's effort. "Both of those should have never happened," Kruczek said. "The first one went off the tight end's Joey Hubbard hands. And the second one was after a penalty after a touchdown was called back.

Those were not his fault. He did very well." Especially in the second half. Culpepper had back-to-back 10-yard completions to Cleveland I sl CT i Injuries knocked Central Florida quarterback Daunte Culpepper from games at South Carolina and at New Mexico. Poor play caused him to be pulled two weeks ago in a loss at East Carolina. He didn't finish Saturday afternoon's game against Samford, either.

But this time, the reason was much more satisfying for the Golden Knights. They and Culpepper were cruising. Culpepper completed 13 of 19 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns in a little more than three quarters' work in UCF's 38-6 blowout at the Florida Citrus Bowl. October couldn't get here soon enough for Culpepper. As much as the team needed a vic Ossein No play hurt Samford or excited UCF more than Todd Cleveland's 93-yard kickoff return to start the game.

Cleveland returned three kickoffs for touchdowns two years ago as a freshman but had averaged just 18 yards on nine returns this season. His return was the fifth-longest In UCF history. OThls is the seventh season In a row that the two teams have played. The teams will play for an eighth and perhaps final time next season, also in Orlando. Samford senior safety Jeff Morris, who intercepted a pass by Jason Thorpe in the fourth period, entered tied for fifth in l-AA in interceptions with five.

UCPs Kevin Reld had a full day. He returned a squib kickoff 6 yards when Samford was trying to stay away from Cleveland. He also had a kickoff tackle that may have prevented a touchdown by Samford. And Reid got some playing iv.t RESULTS, SCHEDULE Date Opponent Aug. 29 UCF 39, William Mary 33 Sept 7 South Carolina 33, UCF 14 Sept 14 New Mexico 17, UCF 7 Sept 21 BaH State 31, UCF 10 Sept 28 East Carolina 28, UCF 7 Oct 12 UCF 38, Samford 6 Cleveland wakes up shaky offense KNIGHTS from C-1 Oct.

19 NE Louisiana 4 p.m. Oct 26 at Georgia Tech 1 p.m. Nov. 2 Illinois St. 4 p.m.

Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. Nov. 16 Bowling Green 4 p.m. I time at quarterback late in the game.

Minutiae: Sophomore Daurtte Culpepper threw his 20th and 21st touchdown passes, moving him into fourth place on the school career chart and surpassing Tony Lanham 20. Dana Thyhsen has 41, Darin Slack has 47 and Darin Hirv shaw is far ahead at 82. Kicker Charlie Pierce scored eight points and is tied for second with Ed O'Brien with 263. Franco Grilla is first with 284. Linebacker Nakla Reddick led the Knights in tackles with seven.

The Knights made 13 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. End Jermaine Benoit had two sacks and end Mike Osuna had one. No serious injuries were reported. JERRY GREENE and TIM TURNER am uted a 40-yard scoring run. The running game was rejuvenated and diversified.

Grant led with 51 yards on seven runs, Huff added 49 on 10 carries and freshman Edward Mack returned from a knee injury to contribute 48 yards on 13 tries. All told, 209 yards on 40 attempts. Charlie Pierce added five extra points and closed the scoring in the third with a 34-yard field goal The Knights had an enormous day in all aspects of the kicking game and special teams. Besides Cleveland's touchdown and Pierce's kicks, Reginald Doster set up a touchdown by sacking Samford's distressed punter, Mike Healey. The Bulldogs averaged 31 yards on the 10 punts Healey did get off.

Their kicker, Mike Howell, probably will sit next to Healey on the plane ride home. He missed a 20-yard field goal and his one extra-point try. "I didn't want us to back down or play scared just because UCF is a I-A team," Samford coach Pete Hurt said. "From an effort standpoint, we didn't back down, but from a mistakes standpoint, we did." UCF's defense was outstanding, especially in the second half when the Bulldogs were held to 41 yards. Offense, defense, special teams.

It all worked pretty well even if the opponent was I-AA. "We don't look at what division they're in," fullback Chris Wrenn said. "We controlled the game and it really felt good." i great way to start for us." The Knights had their rocky moments, especially with two lost fumbles and four intercepted passes, but still put the Bulldogs away with 17 points in the third period before substituting heavily in the scoreless fourth. Cleveland added a second touchdown on a 10-yard pass from quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who got the ball over four defenders. Culpepper came out at the start of the final period, but only because it was mop-up time.

During UCF's sorry September on the road, he was benched twice for injuries and once for ineffectiveness. "I've always believed in our offense," he said "We just needed to be on the same page" Culpepper's page included modest but effective numbers. He completed 13 of 19 passes for 162 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also was the Knights' PHELAN M. EBENHACfVTHE ORLANDO SENTINEL GOLDEN KNIGHTS 38, BULLDOGS 6 Hold it.

Defensive end Jermaine Benoit sacks Samford's Bart Yancey as the Knights held the Bulldogs to 41 total yards in the 2nd half. Team Passing 11 8 3 Nonsant 1 Cleveland 1 Thorpe 1 SAM UCF Player AO. Com Int Yds TO Yancey 19 11 0 77 1 Rackfey 13 7 0 57 0 17 19 Passing fourth-leading rusher with 39 yards taL 12 10 6 Receiving 5 2 on seven scrambles, including a 26- 1 Player All Com Int Yds TO Culpepper 19 13 2 162 2 Thorpe 10 1 0 0 Raid 10 10 0 Running back Mike Huff was a 196 371 yard run. major weapon in the first half, scor- Receiving No Yds Avg TD 4 35 8.8 0 3 20 6 7 0 3 8 27 0 3 16 53 0 2 21 tO 5 1 2 22 11.0 0 1 12 12.0 0 Player Porter Aut Griffith Moore Williams Brown Watson No Yds 4 46 Bom oacKup 21. and a 6-yard Thorpe and Kevm Reid plajred.

ps Culpepper. Each threw a pass and had it inter- cepted to run up UCFs turnover to- Running back Mike Grant contrib 35 11,7 48 24.5 3 2 1st DOWNS Rushing Passing Penalty TOT. NET YDS. NET YDS. RUSHING Rushes Sack Yds lost Avg.

per rush NET YDS PASSING Mad int PUNTS-Avg. Had blocked RETURN YDS. Punt Returns Kickoff Returns Interceptions PENALTIES-YdS. FUMBLES-Lost TIME Of POSS. A 12,122.

TD 1 0 0 0 0 0 Player Cleveland Grant Nonsant Stipe Daniels Huff 14 7.0 64 209 41 40 2- 13 3-21 16 52 134 162 32-18 21-13 0 4 0 0 13 18 OO 2-18 3- 51 2-99 4- 13 0-0 6-66 8-77 i 44 3-2 33:26 26:34 Kickoff returns 12 12.0 6 60 Punt returns Yds Avg No 2 18 9.0 Leister Doster 1 0 0.0 Kickoff returns Player No Yds Avg TO Russell 1 29 29.0 0 Garett 1 11 11.0 0 Buchanan 1 11 11.0 0 TacKles-ssslsts-sacKs Morris 4-34, Spina 3-4-0, Dale 1-5-6. Wilder 2-3-0, Roby 4-0-0. Stamps 4-O0. Robertson 3-0-2, Stone 2-1-0, Dugans 2-1-0. Nwagwu 1-2-0, Thatcher 20, Bishop 2-O-0.

Payne 0-1-0. Acklin 0-1-0, Garrett 1-04, Taylor 1-0-0, Longdate 0-14, Horace 144, CENTRAL FLORIDA Avg Player No Yds 93 930 TD 1 0 Cleveland 1 Doster 1 0 00 Individual SAMFORD Rushing 2)lUi Li Li ILULJuii (O n7 (ai llljMLb Tackles-Bsslsts-sacks Roddick 6-14, Thomas 644, Bry- am 4-14, Bush 2-34, Benoit 44-2, Tate 444, Rickerson 3-14, Doster 3-14, Mare 2-14. Osuna 2-14, Miranda 344. McWhorter 344, Devme 2-14, Palmer 2-14. Washington 244, Rice 0-14, Jackson 0-14.

Spencer 0-14, Richardson 144, Dadetow 144. MISSED FQ ATTEMPTS Samford: Howell 20. Rushing LQ 12 13 16 2 1 -12 9 No. 12 9 8 4 1 1 6 Yds. 54 32 IV 24 4 0 1 9 Player Griffith Russell Williams Whaley Healey Yancey No Yds Net LG 7 51 51 40 10 51 49 21 13 51 48 14 7 52 39 28 Player Grant Hud Mack Culpepper Samford Bulldogs 6 0 0 06 Central Florida Golden Knights 14 7 17 0 38 Unit C-8 Scoring pHy PAT Key ploy Ortvs First Quarter 74 Cleveland 93 kicked return Piercekick 14.45 7-6 S.Wams 15 paaafrom Yancey kicktaled Spina intercepts Culpepper MO 328 144 Huff21 run Piercekick Cleveland 12 pass from Culpepper 542 4:03 Second Quarter 214 Hud 6 pass from Culpepper Piercekick Doster sacks punter 34 tila Third Quarter 284 Cleveland 10 pass from Culpepper Piercekick Culpepper 26 tun 7-61 1058 354 Grant 40 run Piercekick Nonsant 37 pass from Culpepper 3-77 944 3M FG Pierce 34 1 I Grant 9 pass from CUpepper (W4 4.58 MR.

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