The UCF Knights lost their pivotal match Friday evening against the Louisville Cardinals in a 20 - 14 upset.
Coach Gus Malzahn wasn’t shy about the importance of the game; last season, the Cardinals racked up 500 yards of offense against UCF.
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However, Louisville struck early Friday night, with Tiyon Evans finishing the Cardinals’ first drive with a touchdown.
The Knights answered right back, as John Rhys Plumlee passed to Javon Baker Hauls to make the team’s first touchdown.
After the first quarter, the Cardinals and the Knights were tied at an even 7 - 7.
Isaiah Bowser managed to get another touchdown — his fourth for the season — during the next quarter, putting the Knights up at 14 - 7 by halftime.
Cardinals quarterback Malik Cunningham burned the Knights with 43-yard touchdown, putting Louisville up front at 17 - 14 during the third quarter.
In response, Plumlee passed to Javon Baker, who ditched his defender and nearly scored another touchdown for the Knights, but a holding penalty against the Knights negated the touchdown.
The Cardinals managed to grab another three points during the fourth and final quarter, scoring a victory against the Knights 20 -14.
The UCF Knights are set to take on Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton next week on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m.
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