2005 Hawaii Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 2005 Sheraton
Hawaii Bowl
matched the UCF Knights against the . The fourth edition of the Hawaii Bowl was held in Honolulu, Hawaii
, and featured the WAC champions versus the Conference USA runner-ups. UCF was one of the nation's best stories of the season. They had gone 0-11 the previous season, and were in the midst of a 17-game losing streak the previous season.
They accomplished one of the biggest turnarounds in NCAA history. After starting the season 0-2, they won eight of their next nine games to make it to the Conference USA championship game. At 8-3, and 7-1 in Conference USA, they lost to Tulsa in the championship game to fall to 8-4.
UCF started the scoring with quarterback Steven Moffett throwing a 51-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Marshall
to make it 7-0 UCF. Four minutes later, running back Kevin Smith
took a hand-off and rushed 78 yards for a touchdown giving UCF a 14-0 lead. Robert Hubbard got Nevada on the board with a 4-yard touchdown run cutting the lead to 14-7. UCF's Matt Prater
drilled a 47-yard field goal to move the lead back up to 17-7 at the end of the 1st quarter.
In the second quarter, running back B.J. Mitchell scored twice on two 1-yard touchdown runs for Nevada to reclaim the lead 21-17. Later on, running back Robert Hubbard scored from 24 yards out to extend the lead to 28-17 Nevada. Matt Prater's 38-yard field goal before the half cut the lead to 28-20.
Early in the third quarter, Steven Moffett fired a 29-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall. The ensuing two-point conversion
failed, and Nevada still led 28-26. With two minutes to go in the third quarter, Kevin Smith scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to give UCF a 32-28 lead. UCF tried for two points again, but failed.
In the fourth quarter, Robbert Hubbard scored on a 5-yard touchdown run to give Nevada a 35-32 lead. With 3:18 to go in the game, quarterback Jeff Rowe
threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Travis Branzell to extend the lead to 42-32. On UCF's next possession, they failed to score a touchdown, and were forced to attempt a long field goal. Kicker Matt Prater nailed a 46-yard field goal to cut the lead to 42-35 with 1:35 left.
The ensuing onside kick
was recovered by UCF, and they took advantage of it. With 55 seconds left, Steven Moffett threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall, to tie the game at 42. This was their third connection of the game. In overtime, Jeff Rowe scored on a 4-yard touchdown run to make the lead 49-42 Nevada. Kevin Smith answered with a 19-yard touchdown run,
but Matt Prater missed the extra point, and Nevada escaped with a 49-48 win.
Sheraton Hotels and Resorts
Sheraton Hotels and Resorts is Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide's largest and second oldest brand . Starwood's headquarters are in White Plains, New York.-Sheraton history:...
Hawaii Bowl
Hawaii Bowl
The Hawaii Bowl is a post-season National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision college football bowl game that has been played annually at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii since 2002. Typically played on either Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, the game matches teams from either...
matched the UCF Knights against the . The fourth edition of the Hawaii Bowl was held in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
, and featured the WAC champions versus the Conference USA runner-ups. UCF was one of the nation's best stories of the season. They had gone 0-11 the previous season, and were in the midst of a 17-game losing streak the previous season.
They accomplished one of the biggest turnarounds in NCAA history. After starting the season 0-2, they won eight of their next nine games to make it to the Conference USA championship game. At 8-3, and 7-1 in Conference USA, they lost to Tulsa in the championship game to fall to 8-4.
UCF started the scoring with quarterback Steven Moffett throwing a 51-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Marshall
Brandon Marshall
-2006:Before the regular season even began, Marshall suffered a slight tear to his PCL in a pre-season game against the Detroit Lions. Although the injury sidelined him for a couple of weeks, he was able to return and play 15 games during the regular season. Marshall had a total of 20 catches, 309...
to make it 7-0 UCF. Four minutes later, running back Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith (running back)
Kevin Smith is an American football running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Central Florida.-Early years:Smith attended Southridge High School...
took a hand-off and rushed 78 yards for a touchdown giving UCF a 14-0 lead. Robert Hubbard got Nevada on the board with a 4-yard touchdown run cutting the lead to 14-7. UCF's Matt Prater
Matt Prater
Matt Prater is an American football placekicker who plays for the Denver Broncos. He was originally signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at the University of Central Florida, where he majored in psychology.-High school career:Prater attended...
drilled a 47-yard field goal to move the lead back up to 17-7 at the end of the 1st quarter.
In the second quarter, running back B.J. Mitchell scored twice on two 1-yard touchdown runs for Nevada to reclaim the lead 21-17. Later on, running back Robert Hubbard scored from 24 yards out to extend the lead to 28-17 Nevada. Matt Prater's 38-yard field goal before the half cut the lead to 28-20.
Early in the third quarter, Steven Moffett fired a 29-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall. The ensuing two-point conversion
Two-point conversion
In American and Canadian football, a two-point conversion is a play a team attempts instead of kicking a one-point convert immediately after it scores a touchdown...
failed, and Nevada still led 28-26. With two minutes to go in the third quarter, Kevin Smith scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to give UCF a 32-28 lead. UCF tried for two points again, but failed.
In the fourth quarter, Robbert Hubbard scored on a 5-yard touchdown run to give Nevada a 35-32 lead. With 3:18 to go in the game, quarterback Jeff Rowe
Jeff Rowe
Jeff Rowe is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Travis Branzell to extend the lead to 42-32. On UCF's next possession, they failed to score a touchdown, and were forced to attempt a long field goal. Kicker Matt Prater nailed a 46-yard field goal to cut the lead to 42-35 with 1:35 left.
The ensuing onside kick
Onside kick
In American and Canadian football, an onside kick is a type of kick used at a kickoff or other free kick, or scrimmage kick or other kick during play, in which the ball is kicked favorably for the kicking team to avoid giving away the ball...
was recovered by UCF, and they took advantage of it. With 55 seconds left, Steven Moffett threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall, to tie the game at 42. This was their third connection of the game. In overtime, Jeff Rowe scored on a 4-yard touchdown run to make the lead 49-42 Nevada. Kevin Smith answered with a 19-yard touchdown run,
but Matt Prater missed the extra point, and Nevada escaped with a 49-48 win.