UCF football pulls away late, defeats Georgia State on Duke Watson's big night

Orlando - UCF defied expectations to defeat Georgia State 44-30 on Sept. 19, capitalizing on a second-half surge led by Duke Watson. Watson recorded a career-high 177 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Keyone Jenkins added two scores with the legs in the second half. Georgia State initially led 24-20 at halftime, fueled by a five-play drive that saw Cameran Brown connect with Rodshaun Dorsey and Qwantavius Wiggins for touchdowns.

However, UCF's defense, bolstered by interceptions from Tackett Curtis and Demari Henderson, turned the tide in the third quarter. Curtis' interception, which led to a nine-play, 38-yard return, proved decisive. UCF closed the game with a 44-yard field goal by Will Stone and a crucial 37-yard kickoff return by Taevion Swint, showcasing strong special teams play.

Despite key players like Alonza Barnett III being unlikely to return soon due to a hamstring injury, UCF's coach Scott Frost remains optimistic, noting Watson's performance as a significant factor in the Knights' resurgence ahead of their first Big 12 matchup against TCU.