In Orlando, UCF’s Tayven Jackson led the Knights to a convincing 34-9 win over North Carolina. He threw for 223 yards and scored both a passing and a rushing touchdown.
The Knights played steadily throughout the match. They had several long drives, but a standout moment was a quick touchdown just before halftime. In only 64 seconds, Jackson found Kylan Fox for an 18-yard score, capping an 83-yard drive.
UCF kept the momentum going into the third quarter. After forcing a punt, Myles Montgomery scored a short rushing touchdown, pushing the lead to 24 points. Jaden Nixon added another rushing touchdown on the final drive.
On the other side, North Carolina’s offense struggled. Quarterback Gio Lopez managed only 87 yards on 11 completions before leaving the game with a right leg injury. His backup, Max Johnson, came in and threw a touchdown to Nathan Leacock late in the game.
With only 217 yards gained compared to UCF’s 366, North Carolina faces challenges moving forward, especially in their upcoming matchup against Clemson. This follows a tough loss to TCU, highlighting their need for improvement.
In contrast, UCF is finding its rhythm with Jackson leading the way. After two solid performances, he’s solidified his role as the starting quarterback.
As both teams look ahead, UCF travels to Kansas next week to open Big 12 play, while North Carolina takes a break before facing Clemson on October 4.
As the season unfolds, the Knights may continue to thrive under Jackson, while North Carolina must regroup to turn their fortunes around. Statistically, teams that improve their passing game often see a significant boost in their overall performance. According to recent studies, a quarterback’s ability to adapt to pressure can determine a team’s success. The coming weeks will reveal if Lopez’s injury will impact the Tar Heels’ progression or if Johnson can step up in crucial moments.
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