R.J. Harvey ran for 142 yards and two touchdowns to highlight UCF’s season-opening 57-3 win over New Hampshire on Thursday in Orlando, Fla.
Myles Montgomery added 126 total yards and two scores for the Knights (1-0), who outgained the Wildcats 639-162 to easily dispose of their FCS foe. UCF’s KJ Jefferson went 7-of-14 for 164 yards with two touchdowns and an interception and also ran for a score.
Seth Morgan finished 14-of-28 for 95 yards with two interceptions for New Hampshire (0-1), which went 2-for-15 on third down. Logan Tomlinson racked up 73 yards on six receptions for the Wildcats, while Wande Owens paced the defense with 14 tackles.
The Knights got off to a relatively slow start, as their first five possessions included two field goals by Colton Boomer and two punts. Their only touchdown in that early stretch came when Deshawn Pace’s interception set up the offense on the 3-yard line, allowing Jefferson to plunge into the end zone on the next play.
UCF tacked on two more touchdowns in the second quarter to open a 29-3 lead at intermission. With about 10 minutes left before halftime, Harvey unleashed a 60-yard run to the 1, setting up his own touchdown on the next snap. He later added a 13-yard TD run in the final minute of the period.
Jefferson found Montgomery for a 49-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter to make it 36-3. Jefferson threw back across the field to Montgomery, who raced down the left sideline and fought off one tackle on his way to the end zone.
On UCF’s next possession, Peny Boone erupted through the middle of the New Hampshire defense for a 59-yard touchdown run.
The Knights tacked on two more TDs in the final 3:05 of the third quarter. Jefferson hooked up with Johnny Richardson for a 22-yard scoring strike before Montgomery’s 25-yard rushing TD made it 57-3.
Neither team dented the scoreboard in the fourth.
–Field Level Media
