Football: Rockets Knock Off Central Florida, 27-24
10/19/2002 12:00:00 PM | Football
Oct. 19, 2002
From Associated Press and UT staff reports
ORLANDO, Fla. - Brian Jones threw for two touchdowns and Toledo's revived ground game sparked a second-half rally as the Rockets beat Central Florida, 27-24, Saturday night. Toledo's victory spoiled UCF's debut home game in the Mid-American Conference.
Toledo (5-2, 3-0 Mid-American) was held to 72 rushing yards in a scoreless first half, its first in 26 games. But after intermission, the Rockets erupted for 228 yards and scores by Astin Martin and William Bratton.
Toledo broke ahead 21-17 behind Martin's 59-yard TD sprint on the fourth quarter's first play. Martin - who had 113 yards on 13 carries - turned the right corner, broke into a clear middle and outran the secondary for the score.
UCF (2-4, 1-2) grabbed a short-lived 24-21 lead on its ensuing possession when Ryan Schneider found Michael Gaines on a 13-yard tight end screen.
But Bratton put the Rockets up for good behind a 2-yard jog with 8:23 remaining. Following a 53-yard kickoff return to the UCF 46, Toledo ran nine straight times for the go-ahead TD.
Bratton finished with 81 yards on 18 carries. Trinity Dawson added 100 rushing yards, also on 18 attempts.
Toledo cut the deficit to 10-7 early in the third quarter when Carl Ford took a short pass across the middle and bounced off two would-be tacklers for a 16-yard TD. Rockets cornerback Brandon Hefflin set up the drive by intercepting Schneider's deep pass on a flea flicker and returning the ball to the UCF 40.
The Knights quickly struck to re-establish their 10-point lead, as Dee Brown scored from eight yards out with 6:30 left in the period.
Toledo came right back, cutting the deficit to 17-14, as Jones and Ford hooked up on a 27-yard touchdown. Ford finished with 82 receiving yards on eight catches.
Jones completed 22-of-31 passes for 197 yards against two interceptions. He entered the game with a completion percentage of 71.1 percent - tops in the nation.
UCF scored its first touchdown by quickly cashing Jones' first interception, where cornerback Asante Samuel ripped the ball from the grasp of Toledo's Lance Moore. Capping off a six-play, 80-yard drive, Schneider found Tavaris Capers streaking down the right sideline for a 25-yard score with 3:16 left in the first quarter.
The Rockets will host Miami on Saturday.
