ORLANDO –  UCF quarterback Tayven Jackson put together the most complete game of his career, accounting for 289 total yards and two touchdowns as the Knights dominated North Carolina 34-9 Saturday afternoon at Acrisure Bounce House.

Jackson completed 25 of 32 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown while adding 66 rushing yards and another score on 10 carries. Both the completion total and rushing yardage marked career highs for the redshirt junior, who has now led UCF to a 3-0 start for the second consecutive season under Scott Frost.

The Knights controlled the game from the opening drive, marching 75 yards in 13 plays over 6 minutes and 37 seconds. Jackson accounted for 67 of those yards himself, capping the drive with a 13-yard rushing touchdown to the right side. The score marked UCF's second straight game reaching the end zone on their opening possession.

North Carolina's offensive struggles began immediately. On the Tar Heels' first drive, defensive tackle Horace Lockett deflected a Gio Lopez pass at the line of scrimmage, and the ball hung in the air long enough for edge rusher Nyjalik Kelly to make a one-handed interception. The turnover gave UCF possession at the North Carolina 23-yard line.

"The play was caught, Horace Lockett was great with the pressure, slapped it and it just landed in my hands," Kelly said afterward. "I knew I had to catch it for a big play to get the offense back on the field to possibly get points."

The Knights converted the short field into a 36-yard field goal by Noe Ruelas, extending their lead to 10-0 after the first quarter. By that point, UCF had outgained North Carolina 114-2 in total offense.

The second quarter brought more of the same. Ruelas connected on a 41-yard field goal just over five minutes into the period, pushing the lead to 13-0. The Knights had built a 137-2 advantage in total yardage at that point, with North Carolina managing just one first down through nearly 20 minutes of play.

North Carolina finally showed signs of life late in the second quarter, driving to the UCF 12-yard line on a 10-play, 63-yard drive that consumed over four minutes. But the Knights' secondary responded when Jayden Bellamy tipped a Lopez pass and Braeden Marshall secured the interception, his first of the season.

UCF needed just over a minute to capitalize. Jackson completed passes to four different receivers during a six-play, 83-yard drive, finding sophomore Kylan Fox for a 17-yard touchdown with 13 seconds remaining in the half. The score was Fox's first collegiate touchdown and gave the Knights a commanding 20-3 halftime advantage.

"I really liked the intensity our defense came out with to start the game," Frost said. "The good thing on that side of the ball is that we got a lot of guys that can make game-changing plays and impact the game."

The statistical dominance was stark at intermission. UCF outgained North Carolina 209-97, including a 61-29 advantage on the ground. The Knights held possession for 19 minutes and 13 seconds compared to the Tar Heels' 10:47, while converting four of six third-down attempts.

North Carolina entered the game having won two straight, but their offensive execution deteriorated throughout the first half. Lopez completed just 4 of 6 passes for 55 yards and two interceptions before suffering an injury late in the third quarter. The Tar Heels managed only 40 rushing yards on 11 carries in the first half, well below their season averages.

The third quarter began with another North Carolina three-and-out, and UCF nearly extended their lead when the Tar Heels muffed the ensuing punt. Though North Carolina recovered, the Knights had excellent field position at the UNC 36-yard line.

Jackson took advantage, completing passes of 7 and 8 yards to Duane Thomas Jr. and Dylan Wade before breaking loose for a 25-yard run to the UNC 24. Two plays later, running back Myles Montgomery powered in from one yard out for his first touchdown of the season, extending the lead to 27-3.

North Carolina finally answered with their most sustained drive of the game. After Lopez left with an injury, Max Johnson entered and guided a 19-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that consumed 8 minutes and 40 seconds. The drive included three fourth-down conversions, with Johnson finding Kobe Paysour for an 8-yard touchdown with 1:06 remaining in the third quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score at 27-9.

UCF responded by controlling the fourth quarter. The Knights embarked on their most impressive possession of the season, an 18-play, 93-yard drive that consumed 10 minutes and 26 seconds. The methodical march included runs by Jacurri Brown of 14 and 9 yards, while Jackson completed passes of 9 and 14 yards to Thomas Jr. and found Jaden Nixon for 14 yards on fourth-and-four.

Nixon capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run with 1:54 remaining, sealing the 34-9 victory and effectively ending any hopes of a North Carolina comeback.

The Knights finished with 366 total yards compared to North Carolina's 217. UCF averaged 5.5 yards per play while limiting the Tar Heels to 3.7. The Knights converted 5 of 13 third-down attempts and went 4-for-4 on fourth down, displaying the aggressive approach that has characterized Frost's tenure.

Jackson's performance was the centerpiece of UCF's balanced attack. He completed passes to nine different receivers, with Dylan Wade leading the way with 5 catches for 47 yards. Thomas Jr. added 5 receptions for 31 yards, while Nixon contributed 4 catches for 41 yards to complement his rushing touchdown.

On the ground, Jackson's 66 yards led a rushing attack that totaled 143 yards on 34 carries. Montgomery added 35 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, while Nixon contributed 10 yards and the clinching score.

North Carolina's offensive struggles were epitomized by their rushing numbers. The Tar Heels managed just 63 yards on 25 carries, a 2.5-yard average that made it difficult to sustain drives. Demon June led with 50 yards on 10 carries, but no other back exceeded 19 yards.

Lopez's difficult afternoon ended with 11 completions on 14 attempts for 87 yards and two interceptions. Johnson provided a spark in the second half, completing 11 of 19 passes for 67 yards and a touchdown, but the deficit proved insurmountable.

Defensively, UCF was led by Lewis Carter, who recorded 10 tackles including a sack and two tackles for loss. The Knights held North Carolina to just 14 first downs and forced two turnovers while allowing only one red-zone score in two attempts.

The victory extended several streaks for UCF under Frost. The Knights have now won 16 consecutive games at home, dating back to last season. They have also opened 3-0 in three of Frost's four seasons, establishing themselves as a consistent program in the Big 12 era.

For North Carolina, the loss dropped them to 2-2 and snapped a two-game winning streak. The Tar Heels will have a bye week to regroup before opening ACC play against Clemson on October 4.

The announced attendance of 44,206 represented a sellout crowd, the first at Acrisure Bounce House since last season's matchup against Colorado. The enthusiastic home crowd witnessed a performance that demonstrated UCF's potential in their second Big 12 season.

"I just have fun coaching here," Frost said. "There's pressure like anywhere else, but it's not the same. It allows me to be better because I can be free to care about the athletes and try to put them in the best position to be successful."

UCF will look to carry this momentum into Big 12 play when they travel to Kansas State next Saturday for a noon kickoff on FS1. The Knights will face their first conference test with confidence after a performance that showcased both their offensive versatility and defensive playmaking ability.

Key Performers

UCF:

• Tayven Jackson: 25-32, 223 yards, 1 TD passing; 10 carries, 66 yards, 1 TD rushing
• Dylan Wade: 5 receptions, 47 yards
• Lewis Carter: 10 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFL
• Nyjalik Kelly: 1 interception (first career)

North Carolina: 

• Max Johnson: 11-19, 67 yards, 1 TD (second half)
• Demon June: 10 carries, 50 yards; 3 receptions, 8 yards
• Will Hardy: 8 tackles
• Kaleb Cost: 7 tackles, 1 TFL

LAURINBURG – St. Andrews University has announced the hiring of Matt Quinn as the new head coach of the Knights football team. Quinn, a veteran high school coach with a strong track record of success, takes the helm after leading Chesterfield High School (S.C.) to a 6-5 season in 2024.  

“We are happy to welcome Coach Matt Quinn to St. Andrews,” said Elizabeth Burris, the university’s Director of Athletics. “His leadership and commitment to fostering a culture of excellence in his student-athletes aligns perfectly with our mission.”  

Quinn has built a reputation for developing competitive teams and mentoring young athletes both on and off the field. His coaching experience includes head coaching roles at Union Pines (N.C.), North Augusta (S.C.), and Westwood (S.C.), where he earned region coach of the year honors.  

His former mentor, South Carolina coaching legend Bobby Bentley, praised Quinn’s leadership. “Matt is a committed and purpose-driven coach who cares deeply about his players,” Bentley said. “He knows the blueprint for success and will build a championship program at St. Andrews.”  

Quinn, who holds degrees from Presbyterian College and Southeastern Oklahoma State University, emphasized his excitement for the opportunity. “I am honored to join St. Andrews University and lead the Knights football program,” he said. “I look forward to working with our student-athletes, faculty, staff, and the entire St. Andrews community to build a program that we can all be proud of.”  

With Quinn at the helm, St. Andrews looks to usher in a new era for its football program.  

LAURINBURG – In an end to a challenging chapter for St. Andrews football, Head Coach Bob Curtin has stepped down after three seasons at the helm, leaving behind a legacy that transcends the win-loss column.

Curtin, a decorated military veteran turned coach, brought a unique blend of leadership and discipline to the Knights' program. His arrival in 2022 came with high expectations, following an successful prep coaching career. However, the transition to collegiate football proved challenging, with the program securing just one victory during his tenure – a memorable 27-26 triumph over Union Commonwealth in October 2022.

"While the team faced hurdles in terms of wins, Curtin's leadership brought notable changes and established a foundation for future growth," stated the athletics department announcement. His approach to player development drew from a diverse coaching background that included roles in football, wrestling, basketball, and soccer at various levels.

As St. Andrews begins its search for a new head coach, Curtin's departure marks the end of an era that, while challenging in terms of victory counts, laid groundwork for the program's future development. The Knights' athletics department has indicated that updates regarding the coaching staff will be announced in the coming weeks.

RALEIGH – The 3A state championship game, scheduled to be the last game of the 2022 North Carolina high school football season, featured two undefeated teams with dynamic offenses and stingy defenses. In the end, it was turnovers that seemed to make the biggest difference, with East Lincoln’s four turnovers leading the Mustangs to a 30-15 victory and the 3A state championship.

Northern Nash started the game with a bang, with Keno Jones hitting a streaking Randall King for a sixty-six-yard catch and run to get the Knights inside the five-yard line on the second play of the game. Jones scored on a keeper on the next play to put Northern Nash on the board less than a minute into the game. A fumble on East Lincoln’s first play from scrimmage looked like it would be a disaster for the Mustangs, but the East Lincoln defense stepped up and turned Northern Nash over on downs.

Energized by their team’s big defensive stops, the Mustangs offense started to hit their stride later in the quarter. Sophomore running back Christopher Daley II punished the Northern Nash defense, rumbling in from thirty-five yards out to give the Mustangs a 7-6 lead. Keno Jones went deep again on the next Northern Nash drive, hitting Trey Battle for forty-five yards to get the Knights in scoring position. The East Lincoln defense kept the Knights out of the end zone and forced a Bryson Jenkins field goal to end the quarter.

The second quarter belonged to quarterback Tyler Mizzell and the Mustangs. Mizzell threw two beautiful touchdown passes to give East Lincoln a commanding lead going into the half. The first score was a toss to Markell Clark, but it was the fade to Keandre Walker in the back corner of the end zone that had the Mustang faithful on their feet and feeling like they had overcome the costly miscues from earlier in the evening. A Christopher Mileta field goal with no time remaining in the half set the intermission score at 24-9. After a scoreless third quarter, Mileta would add the next points of the game with two fourth-quarter field goals. Keno Jones added a late touchdown pass to Ashton Rhodes to cap the scoring.

Defensively, East Lincoln teetered between giving up big passes to Northern Nash’s speedy outside receivers and making athletic plays to pick off passes. Defensive end Diego Neira picked off a screen pass to set up East Lincoln’s second touchdown of the night. Aiden Terrell and Keandre Walker picked off passes on consecutive drives in the third quarter and Marcel Johnson recovered a fumble early in the fourth quarter to keep Northern Nash off the board.

The win marked the third football state championship for East Lincoln, all within the last eleven seasons. Northern Nash suffered its first loss of the season and fell to 0-2 all-time in state title games.