The War On I-4's Memorable Moments
By Joey Johnston
Time again for the "War On I-4'' — the football version — which will be renewed Friday afternoon in Orlando when the Bulls (2-9, 1-6 AAC) travel to Orlando to take on the Knights (7-4, 4-3 AAC) in the 13th game of the series.
It has been heated, emotional, colorful and, at times, irrational. Players have performed at their career best. Fans have gotten carried away. It has been a nice television attraction. In short, it has been a rivalry.
Here are a dozen things to remember from the previous 12 meetings:
1. The 2017 Game — A Spectacle to Behold.
The 2017 game in Orlando was an epic 49-42 UCF victory that was widely hailed as one of the best games in college football that season. It drew a 3.2 national rating, a 10.1 rating in Tampa and 4.6-million overall viewers on ABC. It's still the most-watched football game in American Athletic Conference history. It had five lead changes, a combined 1,186 yards of offense and three touchdowns scored within a jaw-dropping, 53-second span in the fourth quarter. Weighing in with Twitter appreciation: NASCAR's Dale Earnhardt Jr., NBA all-timer LeBron James and a few dozen NFL players.
2. Catastrophic Injury to McKenzie Milton
UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton's terrible injury hung like a black cloud over the 2018 game in Tampa. With UCF leading 7-0 in the second quarter, Milton scrambled right and was tackled near the USF sideline by Bulls' cornerback Mazzi Wilkins. Milton, who had led the Knights to 25 straight victories over two seasons, did not get up and was down on the field for some 20 minutes. The rivalry took a back seat as everyone shared the same concern and worked together to come to Milton's aid. USF doctors were part of the medical team that diagnosed the situation's urgency. They worked quickly to get Milton to the hospital because emergency surgery was needed to save his right leg, which had extensive damage to the arteries and nerves in his knee. As the weeks progressed, Wilkins and Milton communicated and even appeared together during an event at UCF to discuss the injury's random nature. A friendship resulted between the two players. Milton has since become an inspiration to football fans everywhere after rehabilitating and returning to play in games for Florida State, where he transferred for the 2021 season.
3. Two of USF's Top Four Single-game Passing Performances
Some of the Bulls' greatest passing displays have occurred against UCF – 503 yards by Quinton Flowers in 2017, 404 yards by
Jordan McCloud in 2020 – rank No. 1 and No. 4 on the Bulls' all-time chart.
4. What a Turnaround
Within a three-season span, UCF clinched a winless regular season (0-12 in 2015) with a 44-3 loss to the Bulls and an unbeaten regular season (11-0 in 2017) with a 49-42 victory over the Bulls during the "War On I-4'' game.
5. Black Friday Fun
This is the fifth consecutive season for the USF-UCF football game to be held on Black Friday. Since it became a conference matchup, the game has always been held on Thanksgiving weekend, although it has jumped around. It was twice held on Black Friday (2013-14), then Thanksgiving night (2015), then Saturday (2016) before returning to Black Friday for the last four meetings. It has been intended as the regular-season finale, although USF actually finished at Rutgers in 2013 and UCF concluded at SMU — before the AAC began holding a formal championship game.
6. Mack's Amazing Gallop
The most spectacular run in the series was probably a 56-yard touchdown by USF's Marlon Mack in the 2016 game in Tampa, a 48-31 USF victory. He broke about seven tackles on the play, twice holding up the ball to avoid congestion, interrupting that to stiff-arm UCF's Shaquill Griffin to the turf at about the 25-yard line. Here's what USF coach Willie Taggart said into his headset: "Guys, I don't think we realize how good these guys are, some of the stuff they do. That was big-time.''
7. Rivalry Gets Amplified
The second matchup of the USF-UCF series — the 2006 game in Orlando — was where the emotions really picked up. The Bulls trailed at halftime and the game was tied in the fourth quarter. USF went ahead on Matt Grothe's 27-yard pass to Ean Randolph, then a 24-17 Bulls victory was preserved when defensive end Chris Robinson sacked UCF quarterback Stephen Moffett on fourth-and-6 from the USF 10-yard line.
8. Rivalry Means a Battle
The 2013 game in Orlando was a mismatch — or so it seemed on paper. UCF was 9-1 and headed toward an automatic BCS bowl berth. USF was 2-8 and headed nowhere in Willie Taggart's first season at the helm. The Bulls, coming in with a national-low nine offensive touchdowns, scored twice to take a 20-16 lead in the fourth quarter. When USF's Nate Godwin grabbed an interception off Blake Bortles, the upset possibility was there. But USF stalled. Marvin Kloss, a Lou Groza award finalist, missed a 51-yard field-goal attempt. And UCF rallied, winning 23-20 on Bortles' 52-yard touchdown pass to Breshad Perriman with 4:50 remaining.
9. The McCants Drag
The most iconic touchdown in the "War On I-4'' occurred on the third play from scrimmage in the 2017 game. USF quarterback Quinton Flowers hit 235-pound slot receiver Tyre McCants, who was open down the right sideline. UCF 230-pound linebacker Chequan Burkett grabbed the back of McCants' jersey at about the 12-yard line, but the receiver couldn't be stopped. McCants dragged Burkett, still clinging to the jersey, into the end zone to compete a 47-yard play.
10. Follow the Leader
USF will be facing its fourth different UCF head coach (George O'Leary, Scott Frost, Josh Heupel and now Gus Malzahn). UCF has faced four different USF head coaches (
Jim Leavitt, Willie Taggart,
Charlie Strong and
Jeff Scott).
11. Point Production
USF has scored 367 points (30.6 ppg) in the 12 "War On I-4'' games. UCF has scored 319 (26.5 ppg). UCF came away with a 58-46 victory in 2021 in Tampa as the teams combined for 104 points and 1,223 yards. The teams have combined for 79 or more points (with both teams scoring 30+) in three of the last five meetings, with at least one team scoring 34 or more points in each of the last six.
12. Great Entertainment
Why does the "War On I-4'' really matter? It's usually great entertainment. Prior to the 2008 game in Orlando, USF quarterback Matt Grothe received hundreds of calls and text messages from UCF fans, who somehow got the number to his cell phone. He passed for 346 yards, rushed for 54 and accounted for three touchdowns. When Grothe hit Cedric Hill for a 27-yard touchdown and a 24-10 lead, he ran through the end zone and cupped his right hand to his ear, like he was receiving a phone call. UCF rallied and forced overtime. Grothe hit Taurus Johnson for a 25-yard score on third-and-10. With UCF facing fourth-and-5, Knights quarterback Michael Greco scrambled near the sticks and was stopped by linebackers Brouce Mompremier and Tyrone McKenzie. Measurement. Just short. Game over. USF celebration. UCF dejection. "This is why this is such a great game,'' O'Leary said afterward. "It's a great game for the fans, the players and TV.''
The "War On I-4'' has its 13th renewal on Friday afternoon. The Bulls and Knights didn't meet for the first time until 2005, which was USF's ninth season of football. There were four non-conference matchups. Now, for the ninth time, USF and UCF will meet as members of the American Athletic Conference.
The "War On I-4'' has evolved and grown. Some dynamics have changed. But the game's heart and soul remains. It's a rivalry.
