ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Central Florida will head into the new-look Big East off a strong showing in the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl.
The Knights dominated Ball State 38-17 on Friday night in their final game as a member of Conference USA, amassing 494 yards of total offense while holding the high-scoring Cardinals to their lowest point total of the season.
“Offensively, this is one of the best games we had all year,” quarterback Blake Bortles said. “Everyone just really picked up and went, and that’s why we won the way we did.”
Bortles threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns. The redshirt sophomore also rushed for a career-high 80 yards and scored on a 6-yard run that helped Central Florida (10-4) build a 21-point halftime lead.
“I’m really impressed with [Bortles] and what he did and can do,” Ball State Coach Pete Lembo said. “He moved the ball down field very easily, and I’m sure they’re excited to have him back for another two years.”
Bortles threw first-half touchdown passes of 7 and 5 yards to Latavius Murray, who also scored on a 2-yard run. J.J. Worton’s 7-yard scoring reception made it 35-10 late in the third quarter.
“I thought Blake did everything he needed to do by making the right decisions,” Central Florida Coach George O’Leary said. “Basically, he made the right decisions that moved us down the field. He really showed tonight why he’s our guy out there.”
Ball State (9-4) was hoping to finish with at least 10 victories for the third time. But its high-powered offense sputtered while being held 18 points below its season average. Keith Wenning threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Willie Snead early in the second quarter, but the Cardinals didn’t get into the end zone again until Snead scored on a 16-yard reception with five minutes remaining.
Bortles completed 22 of 33 passes and didn’t throw an interception to become Central Florida’s first 3,000-yard passer since 2002. His three touchdown passes were a career best and tied the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl record.
Wenning, meanwhile, was 22 of 34 for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns for Ball State, which had a six-game winning streak snapped before an announced crowd of 21,759.
Central Florida, one of several schools joining the Big East next season, rebounded from an overtime loss in the Conference USA title game to finish with 10 victories for the third time since stepping up to the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Knights also won 10 in 2007 and 2010, when they were Conference USA champions.
The Knights’ loss to Tulsa in the Conference USA title game kept them close to home for the postseason. Instead of heading to the Liberty Bowl for the second time in three years, O’Leary and his players settled for a 100-mile trek west from Orlando to Tropicana Field.
O’Leary, 66, also brought his team to St. Petersburg in 2009, losing to Rutgers by three touchdowns. Friday night’s victory improved O’Leary’s record to 4-5 in bowl games, including a 2-3 mark with Central Florida.
Sports, Pages 26 on 12/22/2012