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McKenzie Milton throws 3 TDs, No. 9 Temple holds off Temple 52-40

Central Florida running back Taj McGowan, left, celebrates with offensive lineman Cole Schneider (65) after scoring a touchdown on a 1-yard run during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Temple, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, in Orlando, Fla. (John Raoux / AP)
Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. – McKenzie Milton threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns, helping No. 9 Central Florida hold off Temple 52-40 on Thursday night and extending the nation’s longest winning streak to 21 games.

Taj McGowan scored on runs of 1 and 10 yards, the latter finishing a long drive that put the Knights (8-0, 5-0 American Athletic Conference) up by nine points after Temple (5-4, 4-1) nearly rallied to tie it.

Milton, returning to the lineup after missing a game with an undisclosed injury, finished 17 of 33 with one interception. Dredrick Snelson scored on a 19-yard reception and Michael Colubiale had TD catches of 9 and 19 yards to ensure the Knights gained sole possession of first place in the AAC East Division.

Anthony Russo completed 31 of 52 passes for 444 yards and four touchdowns for Temple, which had a three-game winning streak snapped despite gaining 670 yards on a night the teams combined to gain more than 1,300 yards.

Ventell Bryant scored on receptions of 15 and 8 yards for the Owls. Russo also threw to Branden Mack and Randle Jones while building a 34-28 halftime that lasted less than a minute into the third quarter.

UCF took a 42-34 lead into the fourth quarter and stopped a potential tying 2-point conversion before pulling away for good.

In addition to staying on top of the East Division standings, UCF remained on course to be part of the discussion about which teams deserve to be part of the College Football Playoff in December.

The Knights, denied a spot in the four-team playoff field a year ago despite finishing as the only undefeated team in the FBS, were 12th in the initial CFP rankings released this week.

In the first half alone, the teams combined for 808 yards – 510 passing and 298 rushing – with Russo throwing for 277 and three TDs and Milton countering with 233 yards and two TDs. Both quarterbacks had a rushing TD in the second quarter, Russo scoring on a 5-yard run on a fake field-goal play.

The Owls are 5-2 since Russo took over at quarterback following losses to Villanova and Buffalo to begin the season. Armstead returned from missing two games with an ankle injury, making his presence felt with a 33-yard burst on the first play from scrimmage. The senior running back finished with 142 yards on 27 carries.

Milton had another big night, but the Knights kept the nation’s longest winning streak alive by running for 318 yards and doing a good defensive job of keeping Temple out of the end zone in the second half.