ORLANDO, Fla. — Landen Chambers hasn't shown the flash of his fellow UCF
running backs, but there's no doubt that the redshirt junior has just as much punch.
The 5-foot-11, 215-pound Chambers fought his way into the end zone on a 1-yard touchdown run, giving the Knights the final push in a 21-13 win over TCU
on Saturday.
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Both teams played a sloppy game, with six combined turnovers and 15 penalties, but UCF's defense was once again on point, holding the Horned Frogs
to just three points in the second half. On the season, the Knights have allowed 15 second-half points.
The win moves UCF to 3-1 for the fifth consecutive season and improves its overall record to 2-0 against TCU (2-2). It's also the second straight season in which the Knights have opened Big 12 play with a win.
Keyone Jenkins
, starting his second game in place of the injured Alonza Barnett, finished with a program-best 94% completion percentage, completing 19 of 20 passes for 160 yards with a touchdown. He tied former UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton with 14 straight completions.
UCF's defense got an early takeaway when cornerback Jayden Bellamy punched the football out of TCU receiver Ed Small
. Safety Braeden Marshall recovered it and returned it into Horned Frogs territory.
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The Knights capitalized on the miscue as running back Taevion Swint scampered down the right side of the field for a 13-yard touchdown run. It was Swint's second rushing touchdown of the season, giving UCF an early 7-0 lead.
TCU responded quickly as Jaden Craig
found senior receiver Jordan Dwyer
for a 43-yard reception on the first play of the next drive, putting the Horned Frogs deep in UCF territory. Six plays later, Jeremy Payne plunged into the end zone to tie it 7 -7.
On the following possession, Jenkins fumbled the football on a quarterback sneak on third-and-1 at the TCU 45. TCU cornerback Vernon Glover recovered it. However, the Horned Frogs couldn't convert.
UCF had its opportunities, including a fourth-and-2 at midfield at the start of the second quarter, but Jenkins was stopped short, giving TCU excellent field position. The Horned Frogs drove down to the 11 but failed to convert, instead settling for a 29-yard field goal by Nate McCashland.
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The Knights responded with an impressive 75-yard drive capped off by Jenkins finding tight end Caden Piening at the TCU 5. The redshirt freshman dragged three defenders into the end zone for his first career touchdown reception as UCF retook the lead, 14-10.
Bellamy was involved in another takeaway, this time intercepting Craig at the TCU 36.
It was the seventh takeaway of the season for UCF, which had only 14 takeaways all of last season.
But with the Knights driving into the red zone and the clock winding down, TCU safety Kylin Jackson stripped the ball out of Jenkins' hands, ending a sure-fire scoring opportunity. It was the quarterback's second fumble of the day.
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UCF went into the half, leading 14-10.
But after a quick three-and-out by the Knights, TCU put together a 15-play drive that took more than nine minutes off the clock, but penalties and a sack forced the Horned Frogs to settle for a 46-yard field goal by McCashland, cutting the lead to 14-13.
UCF responded with their own double-digit play drive, going 75 yards on 11 plays before Chambers plowed into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown, pushing the Knights' advantage to 21-13.
TCU's McCashland missed on a 50-yard field goal attempt on the following possession.
Cornerback Antione Jackson intercepted Craig late in the fourth quarter, sealing the win for the Knights. It was UCF's second consecutive game with three takeaways.
UCF continues Big 12 play next week. The Knights will be on the road at No. 25 Houston on Saturday (noon ET).
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