Running on the strength of a two game win streak, the Knights are undefeated in conference play as they match up against the 4-1 BYU Cougars Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.
The Cougars lost for the first time last week in a painful 35-20 loss that claimed starting quarterback Taysom Hill to injury, a significant blow to the always competitive program. Though backup Christopher Stewart has seen limited action this season, O’Leary is confident BYU is still a program to be treated with the utmost respect.
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“Is anybody number four? No. I think that he was an exception throughout the country,” O’Leary said about the former starter. He does not believe this will make the game any easier.
“When you get into it, BYU is BYU,” he said. O’Leary stated that fundamentally and scheme wise, this team will remain the same; dangerous as ever. The Cougars beat the Knights 24-17 in their only meeting back in 2011.
J.J. Worton, who was one of few remaining members of that 2011 team, admitted that there is some disappointment in not getting to face a BYU team at full strength.
“It was an unfortunate event, what happened to them. You always want to play a team at their best so there’s never any doubt,” he said.
The UCF offense has seen it’s fair share of struggle this season, and will need to find a rhythm soon if they wish to start winning consistently and with authority. Last week Holman completed only six of eighteen pass attempts and threw two interceptions, while William Stanback – who was supposed to be a feature in this year’s offense – managed only 44 yards and no scores on fourteen attempts.
“Offensively, we’re just not in sync yet,” O’Leary said, continuing “We have to start sustaining on offense and moving the chains.”
After the Croke Park Classic’s second half quarterback change, O’Leary said that he put Holman in because the offense was simply not moving the chains. Prompted with questions about continued struggles from Holman, O’Leary confirmed that significant struggles from his starter will prompt another change, to see what transfer Nick Patti has in the tank. His patience with Holman’s slowed progress is evident by the proclamation.
“You don’t want to be taking inch steps (of progress), you want to be taking yard steps,” he said.
BYU is averaging 34 points per game, so the Knights will need to establish themselves quickly in this home matchup, the first of three consecutive home games.
Kickoff for the Knights’ first conference home game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
