SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 20, 2011

Bryan Kariya scored on a 6-yard touchdown run three plays after a muffed punt in the fourth quarter as Brigham Young overcame a sluggish first half to defeat Central Florida 24-17 on Friday in Provo, Utah.

Central Florida led 10-3 at halftime and took a 17-10 lead in the third quarter on quarterback Jeff Godfrey’s second rushing touchdown of the game before Cody Hoffman returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown.

After a three-and-out by Brigham Young, Riley Stephenson boomed a punt 61 yards over the head of Central Florida return man J.J.Worton, who fumbled after running back to try to return it. Brigham Young's Michael Alisa recovered at the 8-yard line to set up Kariya's score with 10:29 remaining.

Central Florida (2-2) entered the game with the second-ranked defense in the FBS.

Brigham Young (2-2) came in with the nation’s 118th-ranked rushing offense but scored its first two touchdowns on the ground this season. The first was a JJ Di Luigi 16-yard scamper around the right edge in the third quarter.

Godfrey, who hasn't thrown a touchdown pass but has eight rushing scores in 2011, hurt his left elbow when he was sacked in the third quarter. He left the game and was examined on the sideline, but returned.

Godfrey drove Central Florida into Brigham Young territory late in the fourth, but threw an interception at the 3-yard line with 3:10 left.

The Knights outgained the Cougars 393-260 in the first-ever meeting. Brigham Young will travel to Orlando in 2014 to complete the home-and-home series.

Hoffman's score was the Cougars’ first kickoff return for a touchdown since 1998, a span of 158 games.