SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 31, 2010
Central Florida had to sweat out its first-ever bowl victory, but it was well worth it.
Latavius Murray scored the game’s only touchdown in the fourth quarter and the Central Florida defense shut Georgia down in a 10-6 victory in the Liberty Bowl on Friday at Memphis, Tenn.
The victory gave the Knights (11-3) the first bowl victory in the program’s history and sent the Bulldogs (6-7) to their first losing season in 14 years.
Murray rushed 18 times for 104 yards, none more important than the 10 yards he covered for a touchdown with 9:06 to go that gave Central Florida a 10-6 lead.
The game ended with the Central Florida defense on the field, which was probably fitting.
The Knights entered the game ranked 12th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 18.0 points per game. They did not allow the Bulldogs to come close to that number Friday.
Standout end Bruce Miller recorded his second sack of the game with 30 seconds to go and Georgia had to hustle to the line to get off a play. A pass by Aaron Murray to the end zone fell incomplete but officials reviewed the play and put two seconds on the clock.
Murray sent another pass into the end zone but it was knocked to the turf and the Knights celebrated a big win over a BCS conference opponent.
Georgia had won four consecutive postseason games and now has to ponder a disappointing season while Central Florida gets to ring in the New Year by celebrating the most successful season in program history.