3 takeaways: John Rhys Plumlee accounts for 4 touchdowns, UCF hammers Kent State 56-6

ORLANDO — UCF rolled to a comfortable blowout win in its first football game as a Big 12 member.

John Rhys Plumlee accounted for 281 passing yards, 90 rushing yards and four touchdowns as the Knights crushed former Mid-American Conference rival Kent State 56-6 Thursday night at FBC Mortgage Stadium.

The Knights (1-0) outgained Kent State 723-240, demonstrating balance and the efficiency expected against a 35-point underdog. They totaled 334 passing yards and 389 rushing yards, at an average of 8.9 yards per play

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It was, however, not a flawless performance from UCF (1-0). Plumlee tossed two interceptions in the end zone and fumbled once, mistakes more likely to be punished against upper-level competition, such as next Saturday's opponent Boise State.

"Did some good, did some bad. Got to clean up turnovers. That's the thing that sticks out to me," Plumlee said. "(UCF coach Gus Malzahn) told me once, 'You're never as good as you thought you were on film, and you're never as bad as you thought you were on film.' We'll learn from it."

Here are three takeaways for the Knights from a victorious home opener.

1. Xavier Townsend turns in breakout performance

Converted to slot receiver from running back after his senior year at Tampa's Berkeley Prep, sophomore Xavier Townsend produced his most impactful performance to date.

Townsend caught three balls on the Knights' opening drive, punctuating it with a 9-yard touchdown after slipping free from Jalani Williams' tackle attempt and cruising into the end zone. He added an impressive third-down grab early in the second quarter, fighting through Bryce Sheppert's coverage downfield for a 32-yard gain in traffic.

Townsend showed what he can do as a ball-carrier to help UCF put points on the board on its final drive of the first half. He took a reverse pitch, rounded the left corner and picked up 28 yards. One snap later, Plumlee found Alec Holler wide open for an 18-yard touchdown reception to polish off an eight-play, 94-yard drive and extend the lead to 28-3.

"To see the plays he made tonight, man, it's awesome. It's hard not to smile," Plumlee said. "I know how much he worked and how hard he worked. He's a guy that sticks out in my mind, and I'm really happy for him tonight.

"Coming out of high school, he played running back. He's continuing to learn and get better at playing receiver. Man, he's good. And it's scary because he hasn't been doing it for too, too long. Since he got here, you sit back and you watch … he's a completely different player."

Tying for a team-high with six targets, Townsend hauled in five receptions for 81 yards (14 after the catch). Javon Baker and Kobe Hudson added four receptions apiece, combining for 103 yards.

2. Jordan McDonald takes over Isaiah Bowser's Wildcat role

UCF spread the backfield touches around.

RJ Harvey lit the Flashes up for a pair of long touchdowns after halftime, catching a 50-yard touchdown on a wheel route and cruising for a 48-yard touchdown run off left tackle. Johnny Richardson gained 110 scrimmage yards on 14 touches.

Richardson, a senior speedster from Lake Wales, surpassed double digits in touches from scrimmage only twice last year and not once over the final three months of the season.

Notably, though, sophomore Jordan McDonald looks the preferred choice in short-yardage and goalline situations. He checked in three times as a Wildcat quarterback, a role Isaiah Bowser had last fall. He converted on all three occasions, twice picking up first downs in addition to a 2-yard touchdown stroll in the second quarter.

"He's a load," Malzahn said. "He sets his shoulder pads low, and that's a role that he can grow in."

Added Holler: "Any defender that tackles (McDonald) is going to feel him when he's running through the hole."

Mark-Antony Richards and Demarkcus Bowman got into the scoring act in the fourth quarter. Richards strolled in for a 7-yard sweep, and Bowman capped the Knights' final possession with a 5-yard plunge.

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Bowman, a former five-star recruit who spent time at Clemson and Florida, had eight carries for 46 yards in his UCF debut.

3. Ricky Barber, DeJordan Mask make impact plays for UCF defense

First-year defensive coordinator Addison Williams has constantly stressed the need for the Knights to create turnovers and get to the quarterback. UCF made a handful of impact plays, albeit against a Kent State offense with 11 new starters — eight lost to the NCAA's transfer portal.

The Knights recorded six tackles for loss and three sacks against an often overwhelmed opposing offensive line. Ricky Barber set the tone with a sack to halt Kent State's first possession, while Malachi Lawrence and Kervins Choute recorded one apiece with the outcome already settled.

UCF ranked 76th and 109th nationally, respectively, in TFLs (76, 5.4 per game) and sacks (22, 1.57) during the 2022 campaign.

"What we're doing different, I would say, is playing more as a team," senior defensive end Josh Celiscar said. "Everybody's filling their gaps, and nobody's trying to be greedy or make plays they're not supposed to make. Everybody's doing their job up front, and on the back end. We're having great sequences on defense."

The Knights also struggled to corral interceptions a season ago, with a grand total of six, but DeJordan Mask provided the night's biggest defensive highlight when he undercut a deep throw intended for Crishon McCray for a pick.

Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Lee Hunter led UCF with eight tackles, including six solo stops. Celiscar and Tre'mon Morris-Brash paced the unit with 1½ TFLs apiece.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: UCF football: John Rhys Plumlee totals 4 TDs in win over Kent State