Tigers face tough UCF ‘D’

The Daily Helmsman > Sports

 

Tigers face tough UCF ‘D’

By Adam Douglas

Sports Editor

David Minkin

Freshman quarterback Taylor Reed avoids a Tulane defender and throws for a touchdown in last weekend’s Conference USA win against Tulane.

 

Coming off an impressive 33-17 win on the road at Tulane, The University of Memphis Tigers football team (2-6, 1-3 in Conference USA) will look to build on that momentum as they go on the road once again to take on the Golden Knights of UCF in Orlando, Fla. The Tigers were led by defensive and special teams units that caused turnovers and helped create points for a struggling offense that has yet to find their stride this season. But second-year head coach Larry Porter thinks his team is starting to come around.

"I am very proud of the young men that are in our locker room," said Porter at his weekly press luncheon. "It basically validated what we have been saying all along, and that is that we must continue to push and press and stay the course on the things that we fundamentally believe in. And what was the difference in that game as opposed to the others that we have had in the past three or four weeks, I thought the difference was the ability to really respond to negative momentum."

The Tigers had all three phases working in last week's game against Tulane – offense, defense and special teams. And if they want to come away with a much needed second win in a row, then all three must show up again against a tough C-USA opponent in Central Florida. The Golden Knights boast one of the top defenses in the country, allowing just  16.3 points against per game (12th), a rushing attack that averages 171 yards per game (48th) and a passing offense that is ranked 51st with an average of 237.3.

"UCF is in an unfamiliar position in terms of what they have experienced in the past in being 3-4, losing the last two games," Porter said. "You still see a very quality team. Defensively, they are ranked top five in the country in total defense. They try to control the line of scrimmage, and the linebackers are very active and very productive.

Freshman quarterback Taylor Reed, who was 14-for-26 for 213 yards and two touchdowns and one rushing touchdown, will be welcoming back junior wide receiver Marcus Rucker who has been out the last few weeks due to injuries. Rucker's playing time, though, will probably be limited. So Reed and the Tigers will count on senior Tanner Rehrer and a host of young receivers.

"The thing about our team this year is we're family," Rehrer said. "We fight like family. We eat like family. We're just always trying to be relentless out there and just keep on coming."