ORLANDO, Fla. – Deion Sanders got here residence and conquered.
So did Travis Hunter and the opposite so-called “Florida boys” on the Colorado soccer workforce.
They returned to their native state this week, dodged Hurricane Helene after which pulled off a 48-21 win Saturday at Central Florida.
The win provides the Buffaloes (4-1) a three-game profitable streak heading right into a bye weekend subsequent Saturday. It additionally matches the win whole they’d final yr within the first season below Sanders, the Colorado coach from Fort Myers, Florida.
Hunter, the two-way star from West Palm Seaside, caught 9 passes for 89 yards with a landing. He added an interception on protection.
Operating again Isaiah Augustave, from Naples, Florida, added 39 yards on simply 4 carries, serving to revive the Colorado operating sport, which barely existed earlier than Saturday’s sold-out sport at FBC Mortgage Stadium (45,702).
One other Florida native, receiver LaJohntay Wester, scored on a 10-yard landing catch to assist prolong the Buffaloes’ result in 41-21 late within the third quarter.
The Buffs led 27-14 at halftime after the sport was delayed about 50 minutes due to lightning within the space.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders completed with 290 yards and three touchdowns on 28-for-35 passing.
He led the Buffs on scoring drives on six of seven possessions after throwing an interception on his first possession.
Colorado vs. UCF highlights
Colorado places sport away with scoop-and-score TD
That can do it. Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig’s 95-yard fumble return landing provides Colorado a 48-21 lead with simply over 5 minutes to go.
Travis Hunter did seem to get injured on the play, our bodies rolling up on his leg awkwardly, however he was again strolling round on the sideline after a short cease within the medical tent.
Colorado offense retains rolling, extends lead again to twenty factors
ORLANDO, Fla. – Colorado continues to click on on offense and has prolonged its result in 41-21 after a 10-yard landing move from Shedeur Sanders to receiver LaJohntay Wester.
The Buffs have now scored on seven of their previous 9 possessions with their operating sport serving to take the strain off of Sanders, the quarterback. The final drive went 65 yards in six performs, together with runs of 21 and 19 yards by Isaiah Augustave, a switch from Arkansas.
UCF acquired the ball again after that however fumbled the ball away to finish the third quarter. Colorado now has the ball and a 41-21 lead with quarter-hour left to play.
UCF will get again within the sport
ORLANDO, Fla. – Colorado simply let Central Florida again into the sport with 3:58 left within the third quarter. The Buffs appeared to sleep on their 20-point lead and allowed three large move performs of 54, 23 and 15 yards from UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson. The final one was a play-fake for a 15-yard landing up the center to receiver Xavier Townsend, serving to reduce CU’s result in 34-21.
The drive went 92 yards in three performs.
Travis Hunter strikes Heisman pose after unimaginable interception
ORLANDO, Fla. – Travis Hunter simply did what?
We shouldn’t be shocked anymore by what he does, however the Colorado two-way star nonetheless evokes awe by arising with the ball at simply the proper time. This time he even struck the Heisman Trophy pose after making an interception towards Central Florida with about eight minutes left within the third quarter.
He stepped in entrance of the UCF move on the left sideline, taking the ball away from meant receiver Evan Morris, the UCF tight finish.
Sadly for Colorado, the Buffs couldn’t capitalize on it regardless of gaining possession on the UCF 38-yard line. They ended up punting it again to UCF with a 34-14 lead with 5:18 left within the third quarter.
Hunter additionally has 9 catches for 79 yards and a landing on offense.
Colorado extends lead
ORLANDO, Fla. – Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders simply led the Buffaloes on their sixth scoring drive of their previous seven possessions, serving to them take a 34-14 lead towards Central Florida with 9:11 left within the third quarter.
The Buffs marched 63 yards on 4 performs to attain this time, highlighted by a 32-yard move to receiver Will Sheppard that introduced the ball to the UCF 1-yard line. Freshman operating again Micah Welch then scored on a 1-yard run up the center.
Welch has 33 yards on 4 carries to assist revive the Colorado operating sport.
Colorado leads UCF at halftime 27-14
ORLANDO, Fla. – Colorado leads Central Florida at halftime 27-14 after scoring two area targets within the ultimate 42 seconds of the second quarter.
The primary got here after one other clutch play by two-way starter Travis Hunter, who grabbed a move from Shedeur Sanders on third down and 6 for a 29-yard achieve, preserving the Buffaloes’ drive alive earlier than they went up 24-14.
Sanders had rolled left to flee strain and threw it into protection, the place Hunter plucked it away close to the UCF 40-yard line. The Buffs’ drive then sputtered with three performs after that, forcing them to accept a 36-yard area purpose with 37 seconds earlier than halftime.
The kick from Alejandro Mata put the Buffs up 24-14.
After a punt from Central Florida, Colorado acquired the ball again with a number of seconds left and used it to get in place for a 46-yard area purpose from Mata as time expired.
Hunter has seven catches for 81 yards and one landing on the half. Shedeur Sanders has accomplished 22 of 27 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.
UCF retains tempo with Jefferson landing
ORLANDO, Fla. – Central Florida has struck again because it tries to maintain up with Colorado. Quarterback KJ Jefferson bowled into the proper nook of the top zone for a 7-yard landing run with 8:41 left earlier than halftime, serving to reduce Colorado’s result in 21-14.
The play ended an eight-play 68-yard drive. Jefferson is 4-for-7 passing for 122 yards and one landing with one interception.
Colorado laying it on due to run sport
ORLANDO, Fla. – Colorado now has scored touchdowns on three straight possessions to take a 21-7 lead with 12:21 left earlier than halftime. This time operating again Dallan Hayden, a switch from Ohio State, burst up the center for a 14-yard landing.
The Buffaloes have surged since opening the sport with an interception from quarterback Shedeur Sanders. They usually’ve been buoyed by part of their offense that hardly existed earlier than Saturday – the operating sport.
The Buffs have 59 yards speeding on 10 carries from three completely different ball carriers.
Colorado take the lead behind Sanders’ play
ORLANDO, Fla. – Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders seems to be heating up after main the Buffaloes to a 14-7 on the finish of the primary quarter. He has led the Buffaloes on back-to-back landing drives capped by two large landing passes – one for 23 yards to Travis Hunter and one for 47 yards to Will Sheppard.
Sanders completed the primary quarter with 12-for-15 passing for 115 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. The CU offense has been boosted by a operating sport that has 36 yards on seven carries.
UCF scores: RJ Harvey solutions again with landing
ORLANDO, Fla. – The UCF Knights answered Colorado’s landing drive with a landing of their very own on the very subsequent play. Quarterback KJ Jefferson lofted a first-down move to the left aspect of the sector, the place operating again RJ Harvey caught it and outraced Travis Hunter down the left sideline to attain on a 75-yard landing catch with 3:38 left within the first quarter. The rating is tied at 7-7.
Colorado Scores: Shedeur Sanders finds Travis Hunter for landing
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Shedeur Sanders-Travis Hunter present simply acquired began. And now the Buffaloes are up 7-0 towards Central Florida with 3:49 left within the first quarter.
Sanders, Colorado’s quarterback, discovered Hunter close to the purpose line for a 23-yard landing move, ending an 80-yard, 11-play scoring drive for the Buffaloes. Freshman operating again Micah Welch had two runs on the drive for 27 yards.
Hunter now has 4 catches for 36 yards after two possessions. Sanders is 8-for-9 passing for 35 yards and a landing with one interception.
Rating: Colorado 7, UCF 0 with 3:49 within the first quarter
Colorado, UCF swap interceptions to begin sport
ORLANDO, Fla. – Two possessions, two interceptions. After the delayed kickoff, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw an interception on his first possession of the sport, organising a brief area for Central Florida on the Colorado 29-yard line.
However the Buffaloes acquired the ball again with an interception of their very own when UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson lofted a move into the top zone that was picked off by Colorado defensive again Preston Hodge. UCF ran 10 performs earlier than the turnover and has 24 yards of offense.
The rating continues to be 0-0 with 4:17 left within the first quarter.
When is Colorado-UCF sport?
- Kickoff is Saturday, Sept. 28 at 3:30 p.m. ET from FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
The best way to watch Colorado vs. UCF sport
- The sport shall be broadcast on FOX and likewise is on the market on Fubo.
Catch School Soccer motion this season with a Fubo subscription
Colorado-UCF kickoff delayed
ORLANDO, Fla. – Kickoff for the Colorado-Central Florida sport has been delayed till at the very least 4:20 p.m. ET due to inclement climate and lightning within the space.
The sport had been set to begin at about 3:30 p.m. on Fox, then was delayed till 4:05 after which 4:20. The brand new kickoff time is “pending no lightning strikes inside 8 miles,” in keeping with the stadium video board.
School Soccer Week 5 schedule, High 25
- Virginia Tech at Miami, ESPN, 7:30 p.m. (Friday, Sept. 27)
- Kentucky at No. 5 Ole Miss, ABC, Midday
- No. 22 BYU at Baylor, FS1, Midday
- No. 20 Oklahoma State at No. 25 Kansas State, ESPN, Midday
- Minnesota at No. 12 Michigan, FOX, Midday
- Fresno State at No. 23 UNLV, FS1, 3:30 p.m.
- Arkansas at No. 24 Texas A&M, ESPN, 3:30 p.m.
- No. 18 Oklahoma at Auburn, ABC, 3:30 p.m.
- No. 17 Louisville at No. 14 Notre Dame, Peacock, 3:30 p.m.
- Wisconsin at No. 18 USC, CBS, 3:30 p.m.
- Mississippi State at No. 2 Texas, SEC Community, 4:15 p.m.
- No. 19 Iowa State at Houston, FS1, 7:00 p.m.
- Stanford at No. 15 Clemson, ESPN, 7:00 p.m.
- No. 1 Georgia at No. 4 Alabama, ABC, 7:30 p.m.
- No. 21 Illinois at No. 8 Penn State, NBC, 7:30 p.m.
- No. 3 Ohio State at Michigan State, Peacock, 7:30 p.m.
- South Alabama at No. 13 LSU, SEC Community, 7:45 p.m.
- No. 7 Oregon at UCLA, FOX, 11:00 p.m.
Colorado vs. UCF odds, line
The Central Florida Knights are favorites to defeat the Colorado Buffaloes in Saturday’s school soccer matchup, in keeping with the BetMGM school soccer odds. Trying to wager? Take a look at the highest school soccer betting apps in 2024, providing the highest NCAA soccer betting promos and bonuses in 2024.
Odds as of Saturday.
- Unfold: UCF (-14)
- Moneyline: UCF (-550)
- Over/Below: 61.5
School soccer picks Week 5
USA TODAY specialists have you ever lined on how issues will go down in Week 5.
Rain, rocket fill skies close to UCF stadium
ORLANDO, Fla. – A rain cloud burst above the sector at FBC Mortgage Stadium about 100 minutes earlier than kickoff, chasing gamers off the sector and below the quilt of the stadium. The downpour additionally chased away Cam Newton, the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner who was strolling on the sector earlier than the sport as a visitor.
It’s not clear how lengthy the rain will final, however the skies have been one thing to observe right here these days. At 1:17 p.m. ET, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission lifted off about 35 miles east of the stadium on the Cape Canaveral Area Power Station. The launch wasn’t seen from the stadium due to cloudy climate.
About an hour earlier than sport time, the stadium video board was nonetheless imploring followers to go away the seating bowl.
“Inclement climate within the space!” the video board stated. “Please exit the seating bowl at the moment.”
Many college students nonetheless stayed seated behind the top zones.
Deion Sanders, Colorado gamers return residence to Florida for UCF sport
Coach Deion Sanders calls them his “Florida boys” – gamers on his Colorado soccer workforce who’re Florida natives similar to him.
This week a lot of them got here residence when the Buffaloes arrived in Orlando Wednesday for Saturday’s sport at Central Florida.
The Colorado roster formally lists 18 gamers on the roster from Florida, second solely to gamers from Texas (21) and greater than even gamers from Colorado itself (14).
However there are greater than that with connections to the state. The listing doesn’t even embody two-way star Travis Hunter, who’s from West Palm Seaside however moved to Georgia for highschool. It additionally doesn’t embody freshman beginning offensive sort out Jordan Seaton, who performed the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, however is from Washington, D.C.
The listing does embody vast receiver LaJohntay Wester, who returns residence a hero after catching a Hail Mary landing move final week as time expired within the fourth quarter of a 38-31 extra time win towards Baylor. He’s from Palmetto, Florida, and transferred to Colorado from Florida Atlantic, alongside along with his brother Jaylen, a linebacker for Colorado.
Sanders is from Fort Myers, Florida, and performed at Florida State. He has made it some extent to recruit gamers from Florida and cited the state’s excessive variety of gamers within the NFL. Earlier this yr, he additionally employed Orlando native Warren Sapp to affix his teaching employees as a graduate assistant. Sapp starred on the College of Miami.
This can be a large recruiting weekend for Deion Sanders
UCF is predicted to host dozens of recruits Saturday. However Deion Sanders prompt that many shall be there to take a look at the Buffaloes.
“I shouldn’t say this,” Sanders stated on his weekly present on CBS Colorado. “However that is the way in which we do it… A number of recruits that actually need to see us, they’ll signal as much as go to the sport on the behalf of an opposing workforce.”
Sanders stated he assured the Knights will “have their greatest recruiting weekend this weekend.”
“Each recruit in Florida is gonna be on that sideline,” he stated.
Colorado vs. UCF predictions
ESPN: UCF has an 82% probability to win
In line with ESPN’s Matchup Predictor, the UCF Knights have an 82% probability to beat the Colorado Buffaloes in Week 5.
The Oklahoman: UCF 34, Colorado 31
Justin Martinez writes, “Colorado beat the chances in its extra time win over Baylor final week, getting a Hail Mary landing from Shedeur Sanders to LaJohntay Wester on the finish of regulation. I do not suppose the Buffaloes will be capable of repeat that magic towards the Knights, although. UCF ranks first within the nation in speeding yards per sport this season (375.7), and it will use that energy to manage the time of possession and take the ball out of Sanders’ palms. This one shall be nearer than the chances counsel, however UCF will nonetheless get the win.”
Buffaloes Wire: UCF 34, Colorado 28
Jack Carlough writes, “The Knights are at the moment favored by about two touchdowns, which is way too beneficiant towards UCF. Nevertheless, Colorado’s particular groups woes and continued offensive line issues nonetheless have me leaning towards these Knights.”
Colorado vs. UCF all-time report
Saturday will mark the primary time the 2 packages have met and can see UCF (3-0) tackle Colorado (3-1), led by its second-year coach, Deion Sanders.
Colorado depth chart
Offense
- QB: Shedeur Sanders
- RB: Isaiah Augustave
- WR: Will Sheppard
- WR: Travis Hunter
- WR: Jimmy Horn Jr.
- TE: Sav’ell Smalls
- LT: Jordan Seaton
- LG: Tyler Brown
- C: Hank Zilinskas
- RG: Kahlil Benson
- RT: Phillip Houston
Protection
- DE: BJ Inexperienced
- DT: Chidozie Nwankwo
- DT: Shane Cokes
- DE: Samuel Okunlola
- LB: Lavonta Bentley
- LB: Nakhai Hill-Inexperienced
- NB: Preston Hodge
- CB: Travis Hunter
- S: Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig
- S: Carter Stoutmire
- CB: DJ McKinney
Specialists
- Punter: Mark Vassett
- Placekicker: Alejando Mata
UCF depth chart
Offense
- QB: KJ Jefferson
- RB: RJ Harvey
- WR Xavier Townsend
- WR: Kobe Hudson
- WR: Trent Whittemore
- TE: Randy Pittman Jr.
- LT: Amari Kight
- LG: Adrian Medley
- C: Caden Kitler
- RG: Marcellus Marshall
- RT: Paul Rubelt
Protection
- LDE: Malachi Lawrence
- NT: Lee Hunter
- DT: Ricky Barber
- RDE: Nyjalik Kelly
- WLB: Deshawn Tempo
- MLB: Ethan Barr
- CB: Brandon Adams
- S: Sheldon Arnold
- S: Quadric Bullard
- CB: Mac McWilliams
- NB: Braeden Marshall
Specialists
- Punter: Mitch McCarthy
- Placekicker: Colton Boomer
School Soccer Repair podcast
Dan Wolken and Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY Sports activities focus on these matters and extra on this week’s model of the School Soccer Repair.
US LBM Coaches Ballot
Nebraska and Memphis each dropped out of this week’s US LBM Coaches Ballot. The Georgia Bulldogs pulled forward to take the highest spot with the Texas Longhorns in an in depth second.
School soccer bowl projections
There’s nonetheless loads of time left within the season for groups to proceed vying for place, with the hope of securing a spot within the School Soccer Playoff or on the very least a bowl sport. Listed here are Erick Smith’s USA TODAY Sports activities bowl projections following the outcomes of Week 4 video games.
School soccer Re-Rank 1-134
Paul Myerberg supplies this week’s USA TODAY Sports activities NCAA Re-Rank 1-134, the place he ranks each workforce in school soccer, together with Colorado and UCF earlier than they meet this afternoon.
School soccer overreactions from Week 4
Reporter Eddie Timanus is again to supply some big-picture perspective in response to a little bit of the excitement from Week 4, a lot of which was generated by members of 1 convention specifically.
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