ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Blake Bortles threw for three touchdowns and ran for a fourth to lead Central Florida to a 38-17 rout of Ball State in the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl on Friday night.

Bortles threw first-half TD passes of 7 and 5 yards to Latavius Murray, who also scored on a 2-yard run to help the Knights (10-4) win their final game as a member of Conference USA.

Ball State (9-4) was hoping to finish with at least 10 wins for the third time in school history, however its high-powered offense sputtered while being held to a season-low point total.

Keith Wenning threw a 7-yard TD pass to Willie Snead early in the second quarter, but the Cardinals didn’t get into end zone again until Snead scored on a 16-yard reception with 5 minutes remaining.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.