Final
Murray's touchdown leads UCF to Liberty Bowl victory
Jan 1, 2011 - 1:25 AM Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - Latavius Murray rushed for 104 yards and scored the lone touchdown of the game with 9:01 remaining, as the UCF Knights took down the Georgia Bulldogs, 10-6, in the Liberty Bowl.Jeffrey Godfrey connected on 16-of-29 passes for 117 yards and two interceptions for the Knights (11-3), who recorded their first 11-win season in program history.
Brian Watters caught six passes for 57 yards for UCF, which won its first-ever bowl game in its fourth appearance.
"I got here seven years ago, and we've come a long way in eight years," UCF head coach George O'Leary said. "It takes time to get a program going, but I think the depth is there now. I think we'll be a solid football program again next year. I think we are losing some good players, but I think some good players are still in the program and coming up in the depth charts."
Aaron Murray completed 21-of-38 passes for 198 yards and two interceptions for the Bulldogs (6-7), who were making their third Liberty Bowl appearance.
Washaun Ealey carried the ball 16 times for 60 yards while A.J. Green hauled in eight passes for 77 yards for Georgia, which was playing in the 46th bowl game in the history of the program.
"The only thing you can do at this point is congratulate Coach (George) O'Leary and UCF, and they've certainly earned that (win) tonight," Georgia head coach Mark Richt said. "They did a great job; they certainly played great defense. They made plays offensively and on special teams. It was outstanding; a really hard fought football game if you like defense."
Trailing 6-3, UCF took over at its own 35 with 14:40 to play in the game. The Knights used short plays while working their way down the field. In fact, the longest play of the march was an 11-yard run by Godfrey. Faced with a 3rd- and-4 from the Georgia 20, Godfrey connected with Watters on a 10-yard pass. Latavius Murray then rumbled into the end zone from 10 yards out to give UCF a 10-6 lead with 9:01 remaining.
Following four punts, the Bulldogs took over at their own 20-yard line with 2:20 to go. On 4th-and-5 from the 41, Kris Durham hauled in a 30-yard pass in the middle of the field. That proved to be the last completion of the game, as the Knights held strong on defense for the win.
"It was a big relief because we had been running the ball early in the game and wanted to punch one in," Latavius Murray said. "I was running with a 40 yard attitude, and that's what we were coached to do. I think the touchdown was a big relief for the team."
Georgia's first possession of the game lasted 15 plays and covered 95 yards. Faced with a 3rd-and-5 from the UCF 35, Aaron Murray connected with Tavarres King on a 12-yard pass. Orson Charles hauled in an 11-yard pass on the next play to put the ball at the 12-yard line. Three straight rushes from Ealey resulted in nine total yards before Blair Walsh came onto the field more than nine minutes after the drive started and made a 20-yard field goal.
At the midway point of the second quarter, Aaron Murray was intercepted by Reggie Weams. A 22-yard return had the Knights at their own 40. UCF was driving when Godfrey was picked off by Brandon Boykin in the end zone.
The interceptions kept coming, as Aaron Murray was intercepted by Josh Linam on the ensuing possession. A 13-yard return set up the Knights at the Georgia 32 but UCF settled for a 22-yard Nick Cattoi field goal to make it 3-3 with 33 seconds left in the half.
The Bulldogs got the ball to start the second half and went 61 yards in 13 plays. Georgia failed to convert a 3rd-and-8 from the UCF 24, which led to Walsh's 41-yarder for a 6-3 edge.
The remainder of the third quarter was filled with punts.
Game Notes
The only other meeting between the schools took place on September 5, 1999 when the Bulldogs posted a narrow 24-23 victory...Georgia's bowl record is 26-17-3...The Bulldogs played in the Liberty Bowl for the first since 1987 when they defeated Arkansas, 20-17. The other Liberty Bowl trip occurred back in 1967...Georgia played in a bowl game for a school-record 14th consecutive season...This season, UCF advanced to its third Conference USA Championship Game and won the title for the second time with a 17-7 victory over SMU.
- GEORGIA: 6
CENTRAL FLORIDA: 10
Final
Dec 31 6:52 PM - GEORGIA: 6
CENTRAL FLORIDA: 10
End of Regulation
Dec 31 6:52 PM - U-C-F Touchdown - Latavius Murray up the middle for 10 yards.
Georgia 6, UCF 9 4th - 9:01Dec 31 6:16 PM - GEORGIA: 6
CENTRAL FLORIDA: 3
End of 3rd
Dec 31 5:57 PM - GEORGIA: 3
CENTRAL FLORIDA: 3
Halftime
Dec 31 4:57 PM - GEORGIA: 3
CENTRAL FLORIDA: 0
End of 1st
Dec 31 4:09 PM - GEORGIA: 0
CENTRAL FLORIDA: 0
1st Quarter - 15:00
Dec 31 3:35 PM
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