{{short description|American college football game}} {{Use American English|date=December 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2017}} {{Infobox NCAA football yearly game | game_name = Cure Bowl | game_link = Cure Bowl | subheader = 2nd Cure Bowl | title_sponsor = AutoNation | image = File:The Field (31593085411).jpg | caption = The field prior to kickoff | date_game_played = December 17 | year_game_played = 2016 | football_season = 2016 | stadium = Camping World Stadium | city = Orlando, Florida | visitor_school = Arkansas State University | visitor_name_short = Arkansas State | visitor_nickname = Red Wolves | visitor_record = 7–5 | visitor_conference = Sun Belt | visitor_rank_AP = | visitor_rank_coaches = | visitor_rank_CFP = | visitor_coach = Blake Anderson | visitor_1q = 17 | visitor_2q = 0 | visitor_3q = 7 | visitor_4q = 7 | home_school = University of Central Florida | home_name_short = UCF | home_nickname = Knights | home_record = 6–6 | home_conference = The American | home_rank_AP = | home_rank_coaches = | home_rank_CFP = | home_coach = Scott Frost | home_1q = 0 | home_2q = 10 | home_3q = 3 | home_4q = 0 | odds = UCF by 7<ref>{{cite web|title=UCF vs. Arkansas State - Game Summary - December 17, 2016 - ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=400903611|website=ESPN.com|access-date=December 16, 2016}}</ref> | MVP = Arkansas State WR Kendall Sanders<ref>{{cite tweet |author=Autonation Cure Bowl |author-link=Cure Bowl|user=CureBowl|number=810317434569838592 |date=December 17, 2016 |title=.@RedWolvesFBall Kendall Sanders is your 2016 Cure Bowl MVP }}</ref> | anthem = Girl Scouts of Citrus<ref>{{cite tweet |last=Barry|first=Maryann|user=ScouterrificCEO |number=809969679863255041 |date=December 16, 2016 |title=Tune in to #CureBowl Saturday to see @GirlScoutsCC choir performing the anthem live on national television! @girlscouts @SylviaAcevedo }}</ref> | referee = Kevin Mar (Mtn. West)<ref name="Game Stats" /> | halftime = | attendance = 27,213<ref name="Game Stats" /> | payout = 1,350,000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collegefootballpoll.com/bowl_games_bowl_schedule.html|title=College Football Bowl Schedule}}</ref> | us_network = CBSSN<br>Touchdown Radio | us_announcers = Carter Blackburn, Aaron Taylor, & Jenny Dell (CBSSN)<br>Bernie Guenther, Gino Torretta, & Jamie Seh (Touchdown Radio) | ratings = }}
The '''2016 Cure Bowl''' was a post-season American college football bowl game played on December 17, 2016, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The second annual edition of the Cure Bowl is one of the 2016–17 bowl games that concludes the 2016 FBS football season. Sponsored by automotive retailer AutoNation, the game is officially known as the '''AutoNation Cure Bowl'''. Notably, the UCF Knights would not lose another game until the 2019 Fiesta Bowl.
==Teams== The game features teams from the American Athletic Conference and Sun Belt Conference. On December 4, 2016, it was announced that the 2016 matchup would feature the UCF Knights taking on the Arkansas State Red Wolves.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Adelson|first1=Andrea|last2=Khan Jr.|first2=Sam|title=Cure Bowl: UCF Knights vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/133979/cure-bowl-ucf-knights-vs-arkansas-state-red-wolves|website=ESPN.com|access-date=December 4, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Sentinel Announcement" /> The two teams have only played each other once before, with the Knights defeating the Indians (as ASU was then known as) at Centennial Bank Stadium 31–20 in 1991.<ref name="Arkansas Online Announcement" />
===Arkansas State=== {{See also|2016 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team|2016 Sun Belt Conference football season}} After finishing the season with a 7–5 record, the Red Wolves will be appearing in their sixth straight bowl game.<ref name="Arkansas Online Announcement">{{cite web|title=ASU headed to the Cure Bowl; Red Wolves to play Central Florida|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/dec/04/asu-headed-cure-bowl-red-wolves-play-central-flori/?f=sports|website=Arkansas Online|access-date=December 4, 2016}}</ref> Arkansas State last played at Camping World Stadium in the 1954 Tangerine Bowl, when the stadium was called the Tangerine Bowl. The Red Wolves' on-campus stadium, Centennial Bank Stadium, is a {{convert|886|mile}} drive from Camping World Stadium.<ref>{{cite web|title=Centennial Bank Stadium to Camping World Stadium|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Centennial+Bank+Stadium,+2180+Aggie+Rd,+Jonesboro,+AR+72401/Camping+World+Stadium,+Citrus+Bowl+Place,+Orlando,+FL/@32.1140089,-90.5308775,6z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x87d42bc2b3551e2f:0x59af959d8f53502!2m2!1d-90.6677436!2d35.8488977!1m5!1m1!1s0x88e77bb4b4421213:0x28fd8f95e049f5de!2m2!1d-81.4027449!2d28.5390409|website=Google Maps|access-date=December 4, 2016}}</ref>
===UCF=== {{See also|2016 UCF Knights football team|2016 American Athletic Conference football season}} Following the winless 2015 season,<ref>{{cite news|title=UCF earns bid to local bowl game|url=https://www.wesh.com/article/ucf-earns-bid-to-local-bowl-game/8463443|access-date=December 4, 2016|work=WESH|date=December 4, 2016}}</ref> first year coach Scott Frost led the team to a 6–6 record with wins over South Carolina State, FIU, East Carolina, Connecticut, Tulane, and Cincinnati. The Knights have not played at Camping World Stadium since the opening of the on-campus Bright House Networks Stadium following their 2006 season.<ref name="Sentinel Announcement">{{cite news|last1=Green|first1=Shannon|title=UCF football will stay home, play in Cure Bowl|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/ucf-knights/os-ucf-football-cure-bowl-20161204-story.html|access-date=December 4, 2016|work=OrlandoSentinel.com}}</ref> Prior to that, the team had used the Citrus Bowl (the previous name of Camping World Stadium), which is a {{convert|17.7|mile}} drive from Bright House Networks Stadium,<ref>{{cite web|title=Bright House Networks Stadium to Camping World Stadium|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Bright+House+Networks+Stadium,+Knights+Victory+Way,+Orlando,+FL/Camping+World+Stadium,+Citrus+Bowl+Place,+Orlando,+FL/@28.5717262,-81.3670251,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x88e768458ac395a5:0xb44c0e47766e8d3f!2m2!1d-81.1927233!2d28.6079765!1m5!1m1!1s0x88e77bb4b4421213:0x28fd8f95e049f5de!2m2!1d-81.4027449!2d28.5390409|website=Google Maps|access-date=December 4, 2016}}</ref> as their home stadium for the previous 30 years.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Powell|first1=Ryan|title=Farewell Citrus Bowl|url=http://www.ucfknights.com/news/2007/1/18/Farewell_Citrus_Bowl.aspx?path=football|publisher=UCFKnights.com|access-date=December 4, 2016}}</ref>
== Officials == The officials from the game came from the Mountain West Conference.<blockquote>Referee: Kevin Mar
Umpire: Stuart Schake
Head Linesman: George Shoup
Line Judge: David Young
Side Judge: Steve Heiman
Field Judge: Robert "Scooter" Asel
Back Judge: Robert Lewis
Center Judge: Darren Winkley
Replay Official: Judson Howard
Communicator: Bob Bahne
Alternate Official: Tim Crowley<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-12-06 |title=2016-17 bowl officiating assignments {{!}} Football Zebras |url=https://www.footballzebras.com/2016/12/2016-17-bowl-officiating-assignments-by-conference/ |access-date=2022-12-03 |language=en-US}}</ref></blockquote>
==Game summary== ===Scoring summary=== {{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=ASU|HomeName=UCF|state=}} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=1 | Time=10:59 | Team=ASU | DrivePlays= | DriveLength= | DriveTime= | Type=Other | Other=B.J. Edmonds recovers blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown, Sawyer Williams kick good | Visitor=7 | Home=0 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=1 | Time=4:24 | Team=ASU | DrivePlays=6 | DriveLength=70 | DriveTime=1:54 | Type=FG | yards=22 | Kicker=Sawyer Williams | Visitor=10 | Home=0 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=1 | Time=2:48 | Team=ASU | DrivePlays=3 | DriveLength=16 | DriveTime=1:36 | Type=RecTD | Receiver=Kendall Sanders | QB= Justice Hansen | yards=28 | kickresult=good | Kicker=Sawyer Williams | 2pt type=run/pass | 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete | Visitor=17 | Home=0 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=2 | Time=9:31 | Team=UCF | DrivePlays=4 | DriveLength=48 | DriveTime=1:25 | Type=RecTD | Receiver=Taylor Oldham | QB= McKenzie Milton | yards=11 | kickresult=good | Kicker=Matthew Wright | 2pt type=run/pass | 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete | Visitor=17 | Home=7 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=2 | Time=1:04 | Team=UCF | DrivePlays=4 | DriveLength=3 | DriveTime=1:02 | Type=FG | yards=45 | Kicker=Matthew Wright | Visitor=17 | Home=10 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=3 | Time=14:09 | Team=ASU | DrivePlays=3 | DriveLength=73 | DriveTime=0:51 | Type=RecTD | Receiver=Kendall Sanders | QB= Justice Hansen | yards=75 | kickresult=good | Kicker=Sawyer Williams | 2pt type=run/pass | 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete | Visitor=24 | Home=10 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=3 | Time=4:52 | Team=UCF | DrivePlays=7 | DriveLength=32 | DriveTime=2:05 | Type=FG | yards=34 | Kicker=Matthew Wright | Visitor=24 | Home=13 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=4 | Time=14:54 | Team=ASU | DrivePlays=3 | DriveLength=37 | DriveTime=0:37 | Type=RecTD | Receiver=Kendall Sanders | QB= Justice Hansen | yards=17 | kickresult=good | Kicker=Sawyer Williams | 2pt type=run/pass | 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete | Visitor=31 | Home=13 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=31|Home=13}} '''Source:''' <ref name="Game Stats">{{cite web|title=2016 Cure Bowl Game Stats|url=http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=155825|website=Stat Broadcast|publisher=Stat Broadcast|access-date=December 17, 2016}}</ref>
===Statistics=== {| class="wikitable" ! Statistics<ref name="Game Stats" /> !! style="background:#cd1429; color:white"|ASU !! style="background:#8d744a; color:black"|UCF |- | First downs || 8 || 17 |- | Plays–yards || 64–234 || 78–223 |- | Rushes–yards || 38–29 (0.8) || 30–12 (0.4) |- | Passing yards || 205 || 175 |- | Passing: Comp–Att–Int || 12–26–0 || 26–48–0 |- | Time of possession || 31:17 || 28:43 |- |}
{| class="wikitable" ! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics |- |rowspan=3 style="background:#cd1429; color:#ffffff; text-align:center;"|'''ASU''' || Passing || Justice Hansen || 12/26, 205 yds, 3 TD |- | Rushing || Daryl Rollins-Davis || 5 car, 32 yds |- | Receiving || Kendall Sanders || 5 rec, 127 yds, 3 TD |- |rowspan=3 style="background:#8d744a; color:#000000; text-align:center;"|'''UCF''' || Passing || McKenzie Milton || 22/39, 175 yds, 1 TD |- | Rushing || Jawon Hamilton || 10 car, 14 yds |- | Receiving || Taylor Oldham || 5 rec, 56 yds, 1 TD |}
==References== {{commons category}} {{Reflist}}
{{2016 bowl game navbox}} {{Cure Bowl navbox}} {{Arkansas State Red Wolves bowl game navbox}} {{UCF Knights bowl game navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cure Bowl}} Category:2016–17 NCAA football bowl games 2016 2016 Cure Bowl 2016 Cure Bowl Category:2016 in Orlando, Florida Category:2016 in sports in Florida Category:December 2016 sports events in the United States