GLENDALE, Ariz. – In what will be the first BCS appearance for both teams, No. 15 UCF (11-1, 8-0) is set to take on the No. 6 Baylor Bears (11-1, 8-1) in Wednesday’s Fiesta Bowl, one of the grandest stages in college football.
UCF is in familiar territory, playing the underdog in front of a national audience as they did in both the iconic Penn State and Louisville victories. Baylor, whose up-tempo offense leads the nation in points per game with an incredible 53.3 point average, is favored by 17 points.
The Knights’ defense will without a doubt have their work cut out for them in containing Bryce Petty, the first year starter who has set the NCAA on fire with his breakout season. Petty ranks first in yards per completion, second in passing efficiency and averages 320 yards through the air in every game. He’s thrown for 30 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions.
Coach Art Briles may have summed up the danger in Petty’s game best, asserting that “Efficiency as a quarterback is a number one characteristic as far as production on the field.”
Making the signal caller even deadlier will be the return of wide receiver Tevin Reese, who has not played in a game since Nov. 7. Reese is a lightning fast player who ranks first among Baylor receivers with 25 yards per catch, enabling the Bears to stretch the field at any given time.
“I’ll say those legs look fast,” said Coach Briles, “He looks fast, I’m telling you.”
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The Knights’ defense has kept the team in position to win all year long, ranking in the top 10 for their Red Zone defense, only giving up 19.6 points per game – and making plays when it matters. Eight of UCF’s games were decided by seven points, and five of those came at a margin of three points.
It is not without clutch plays, turnovers and staunch defensive drives in critical periods that the Knights have been able to pull out these close victories. The mental fortitude required to persevere through the rigors of a close game have given this young defense an edge, instilling the belief that they can match up with anyone. Including the highest scoring offense in the country.
“I always tell them,” Coach O’Leary said, “You play with great effort every play, good things will eventually happen.”
UCF will lean on the golden arm of the highly-touted Blake Bortles, who has managed to lead this team week in and week out to the most wins in program history. He has passed for 3,280 yards, 22 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, all the while completing 68% of his passes and rushing for another 5 scores.
It is an element beyond his passing ability, however, that has sustained the historic run. Call it ice in his veins, call it the backyard element, or simply call it clutch performance – Bortles knows how to win.
“He’s not a real high guy, low guy. He’s right in the middle somewhere,” said O’Leary. “He never gets unsettled.”
Playing alongside Bortles will be the weapons that have made this all possible, taking a ‘we’ approach over any form of inflated individual statistics. The ability to spread the ball around – six of UCF’s receivers play a significant role in the offense – has been huge for the success of the Knights offense.
Running backs Storm Johnson and William Stanback have combined to provide a solid, consistent base for the offense to build from. The ball-carriers have a combined 17 touchdowns and 1,425 yards on the ground, averaging 5.3 and 4.5 yards per carry.
It will be a matchup of two contrasting ideals – the speedy, explosive Baylor offensive focus against the team oriented, win-at-all-costs mentality of the Knights.
On Wednesday, Jan. 1, these two collegiate titans will meet at the University of Phoenix Stadium under the bright lights of the dome for the final Fiesta Bowl in the Bowl Championship Series. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, and will air on ESPN.
