Bortles leads UCF past FIU, 38-0

MIAMI (AP) — Blake Bortles threw for 219 yards and one touchdown and Central Florida improved to 2-0 for only the second time since 1999 by beating Florida International 38-0 on Friday night.
 
   Storm Johnson ran for 89 yards and three scores. Florida International (0-2) totaled 173 yards, averaged 1.1 yards per rush and was shut out for the first time since 2008.
 
   Bortles went 12 for 19 in three quarters of work. He also ran for 22 yards and a touchdown, and didn't commit a turnover. He has thrown 16 touchdown passes since his last interception Oct. 27, 2012.
 
   Rannell Hall made four catches for 127 yards, all in the first half to help Central Florida built a 24-0 lead.
 
   The Knights have outscored their opponents 76-7, while Florida International has been outscored 81-10.
 
   Bleacher seats shook from fans stomping their feet, but the Panthers couldn't rattle the Knights. Florida International went three-and-out on its first three possessions and didn't register a first down until the second quarter.
 
   The Panthers converted only three of 15 third-down situations, and little else went right either. Cheerleaders tried to toss souvenir T-shirts into the stands during timeouts and had trouble reaching the first row.
 
   And the scoreboard struggled to keep up with the Knights. At one point it showed them leading 87-0.
 
   Bortles was efficient from the start. He ran for a first down on third and 15, then capped the drive with a 1-yard sneak for a touchdown. He threw long to Hall for a 59-yard gain to set up the final TD of the first half.
 
   Johnson, a University of Miami transfer, scored on runs of 2, 15 and 2 yards.
 
   Central Florida's Troy Gray recovered a fumble at the Panthers 17 following an errant snap to set up Johnson's third touchdown run.

WFTV