"I just told the football team before the game, setbacks don't develop character, it exposes it," Central Florida coach George O'Leary said. "The kids took the challenge this week from everyone, and I think they knew they just had to go out and stick together."

The Knights did just that, rebounding from one-sided losses to East Carolina and South Florida by dominating Tulsa for a 44-23 home victory on Oct. 20.

"That was big," junior tailback Kevin Smith told the Orlando Sentinel. "That shows a lot about our team and just goes to show what we can do if we put our minds together. One team, one goal, one mission. We want to be champs. So that's how we played."

Just about everything went right for the Knights (4-3, 2-1 C-USA).

On offense, Smith rushed for 170 yards and produced four touchdowns, which isn't all that unusual for a player who ranks second in the nation in rushing. However, the Knights finally got a strong performance from previously inconsistent quarterback Kyle Israel, who completed 21 of 29 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown while completing passes to seven receivers.

On defense, the Knights intercepted four passes in the second half, starting on the opening drive of the half with an interception by junior free safety Jason Venson that helped UCF push its lead to 31-17. The Knights also recorded five sacks. In all, UCF held an offense averaging 39 points and 572.8 yards per game to 23 points and 379 yards.

"When we get takeaways and we don't turn it over, we have a chance to be a solid football team," O'Leary said.

--CB Joe Burnett already holds the school record for career punt return yardage as a junior. He leads C-USA with 8.4 yards per punt return and ranks third on the team with 35 tackles and leads with two interceptions and seven pass breakups.

GAME BALL GOES TO: QB Kyle Israel -- Smith had a big game, but he has a big game almost every week. By completing 21 of 29 passes to seven receivers for 224 yards and a touchdown -- without an interception -- this time it was Israel who finally came through for the Knights.

KEEP AN EYE ON: WR Sergio Joachim -- Israel needed more veteran help than he was getting and finally got it from Joachim, Javid James and Rocky Ross. Joachim, who left the program last spring after a disagreement with coach George O'Leary and wasn't even mentioned in the 2007 team media guide, returned to the roster in the preseason and worked his way back into the playing rotation only recently. With the passing game in need of go-to receivers, Joachim stepped up to post career bests in catches (nine) and receiving yards (98 yards).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "After our tragic loss to South Florida, Coach O'Leary thought he had to sit down and evaluate things. Coach decided this week that he wanted to go to me, Javid and Rocky to go out and showcase what we could do. We just tried to do that." -- WR Sergio Joachim.

FS Jason Venson -- UCF intercepted four passes in the second half, but it was Venson who got the Knights started, intercepting a pass on the opening drive of the second half to set up a touchdown that put UCF ahead 31-17.

LB Bruce Miller -- Miller came through with a big game, making a team-high and career-high nine tackles and a career-high two sacks.

STILL NEEDS WORK: P Blake Clingan -- Three of his punts dropped inside the Tulsa 20-yard line, including one at the 2-yard line, but two other punts for 32 and 37 yards did not.

Penalties -- UCF had seven for 70 yards, which isn't all that bad, but two players -- CB Johnell Neal and WR A.J. Guyton -- had holding penalties on punt returns.

K Michael Torres -- He made three field goals but he also left some of his kickoffs short.

ROSTER REPORT: After UCF struggled up front in its two previous games, the coaches made some lineup changes on the offensive line, moving junior Josh Sitton from right tackle to left guard and moving redshirt freshman Jah Reid into the starting lineup at right tackle for his first career start. The results were positive for the Knights and Reid. "Jah Reid is a 6-7, 320-pound kid and he's only going to get better," UCF coach George O'Leary said. "We moved Sitton to guard, and I think it's only going to get better there. I think it will give us more depth, too, with (Jeremy) DeVane and Cliff McCray (at left guard). I'm just looking for the right chemistry there as far as getting some things done."

Sophomore DT Travis Timmons made his first career start.