South Florida's Chris Barr (1) slips past Central Florida's Jerod Boykins (47) to score a touchdown during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in Orlando, Fla. (Joshua C. Cruey/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Quinton Flowers passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more to lead South Florida past UCF 44-3 Thursday night.
USF (8-4, 6-2 American Athletic Conference) won for the seventh time in its last eight games and still has a chance to play in the conference championship game if UConn beats Temple Saturday night. UCF (0-12, 0-8) finished the season winless for the second time in 11 years.
Flowers completed 14 of 21 passes for 176 yards and had 87 yards rushing on 18 carries. He had scoring passes of 26 and 1 yard to Sean Price and a 4-yarder to Chris Barr. Flowers scored on runs of 3 and 5 yards.
Marlon Mack picked up 102 yards on 18 carries for USF, his fourth straight game over 100 yards. Emilio Nadelman kicked field goals of 41, 43 and 44 yards.
UCF scored on its first possession, a 28-yard field goal by Matthew Wright, but didn't threaten again. The Knights, ranked last in the FBS in offense this season, had just 203 total yards and were 2 of 12 on third-down conversions.
USF's offense, meanwhile, ran and passed as it pleased for most of the game. Flowers had two scoring passes and a 3-yard TD run in the first half when USF ran off 24 straight points to take a 24-3 lead.
The Bulls final possession of the first half started on their own 28 with 35 seconds left in the half and needed just three plays to get a 44-yard field goal from Nadelman.
D'Ernest Johnson ran 18 yards on the first play, Flowers hit Johnson with a screen pass good for 14 on the second play and Flowers scrambled for 14 yards to set up Nadelman's field goal attempt as time expired.
USF scored touchdowns on its first two possessions of the second half to push the lead to 41-3. Flowers scored from five yards out to finish off 75-yard drive, then hit Price for a 26-yard scoring play to finish off a 67-yard drive.
The sophomore quarterback sat out the fourth quarter.
UCF quarterback Justin Holman hit just 10 of 26 passes for 116 yards with two interceptions. Tre'Quan Smith had seven catches for 102 yards.
Central Florida's Tre Neal (33) tackles South Florida's D'Ernest Johnson (32) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in Orlando, Fla. (Joshua C. Cruey/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
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Central Florida quarterback Justin Holman (13) drops back to pass against South Florida during the first half of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in Orlando, Fla. (Joshua C. Cruey/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
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Central Florida quarterback Justin Holman (13) scrambles as he is pressured by South Florida's Nigel Harris (57) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in Orlando, Fla. (Joshua C. Cruey/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
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Central Florida defensive back Jerod Boykins (47) breaks up a pass intended for South Florida's Ryeshene Bronson (81) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in Orlando, Fla. (Joshua C. Cruey/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
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South Florida's Chris Barr (1), Marlon Pope (11), Sean Price and Ryeshene Bronson (81) celebrate after a Price gain against Central Florida during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in Orlando, Fla. (Joshua C. Cruey/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
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South Florida quarterback Quinton Flowers (9) is stopped by Central Florida's Dominic Spencer (50) as he runs up the middle during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in Orlando, Fla. (Joshua C. Cruey/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
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Central Florida's Taj McGowan (27) carries during the second quarter against South Florida in an NCAA college football game Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in Orlando, Fla. (Joshua C. Cruey/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
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Central Florida's Taj McGowan (27) runs for yardage during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against South Florida in Orlando, Fla., Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015. (Joshua C. Cruey/Orlando Sentinel via AP) MAGAZINES OUT; NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT
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Central Florida fans react during the second quarter of the team's NCAA college football game against South Florida on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in Orlando, Fla. (Joshua C. Cruey/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
The Associated Press
CORRECTS TO THURSDAY NOT SATURDAY - South Florida's Chris Barr (1) drags Central Florida's Jerod Boykins (47) while scoring a touchdown during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Orlando, Fla., Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015. (Joshua C. Cruey/Orlando Sentinel via AP) MAGAZINES OUT; NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT
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Central Florida coach Danny Barrett watches during the second quarter of his team's NCAA college football game against South Florida on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in Orlando, Fla. (Joshua C. Cruey/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
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Central Florida fans react hold up a sign during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against South Florida on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in Orlando, Fla. (Joshua C. Cruey/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
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South Florida coach Willie Taggart watches during the first quarter of his team's NCAA college football game against Central Florida on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015. (Joshua C. Cruey/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
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