ORLANDO -- UCF scored 26 unanswered points in the first half to pull away from FIU and defeat the Panthers 61-17 in the season-opening game for both teams at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando.

With FIU trailing 14-10 in the second quarter, UCF tallied three touchdowns, a safety and a field goal to take a 40-10 lead into halftime.

The Knights opened the scoring on the first drive of the game. Quarterback McKenzie Milton hit Jordan Akins on a 22-yard touchdown pass. UCF went for two and got it when punter Mac Loudermilk connected with Jordan Franks on the point-after pass.

FIU answered quickly with quarterback Alex McGough connecting with Thomas Owens on a 75-yard touchdown pass. The 75-yard reception tied a career-long for Owens, who first accomplished the feat at Indiana in 2015.

UCF made it 14-7 on Milton's second touchdown pass. This time the sophomore quarterback found Tre'Quan Smith 50 yards downfield for six.

FIU redshirt freshman kicker Jose Borregales got the Panthers within four after knocking a 39-yard field goal early in the second quarter. It was Borregales's first collegiate field goal. However, that was as close as FIU would come the rest of the game.

In the third quarter, FIU running back Napoleon Maxwell scored his first touchdown in two full seasons. Returning from a knee injury that cost him the last two seasons, Maxwell scampered in from 51 yards for his second career rushing touchdown. It was a career-long rushing touchdown for Maxwell.

McGough was 18 for 29 for 201 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Owens had four catches for 99 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers. Maxwell led FIU in rushing with 61 yards. Treyvon Williams led the Panthers with eight tackles.

FIU plays its home opener next Saturday, Sept. 9 when the Panthers host Alcorn State at 7:30 p.m. from Riccardo Silva Stadium.