ORLANDO, Fla. – The Knights pulled out a 31-24 victory over the BYU Cougars on Thursday night in a pulse-quickening overtime victory, improving to 3-2 overall.
It was a statement victory for UCF, who has struggled to establish themselves as the powerhouse program that finished as No. 10 in the nation last year. Head Coach George O’Leary challenged all of his seniors this week, telling them that this would be their defining moment, their statement game as a senior class. Nationally televised against a well-respected program, it was their moment to take.
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After finishing the first half up 10-3, UCF quickly found themselves on the bad end of a 24-10 deficit in the third quarter. Down by two touchdowns, the statement this team made was one of despair before coming together in the fourth quarter.
A 2-yard William Stanback touchdown and a 37-yard touchdown pass to Josh Reese tied the game at 24 with under five minutes to play. As time expired UCF has an opportunity to put the game away in regulation, but missed a 50-yard field goal to send the game to overtime.
“It shows that you have some perseverance with your team,” O’Leary said. “We probably made it a little bit harder than we should have in regulation.”
Justin Holman and company needed only one overtime possession to take the game, 31-24.
Coming just days after O’Leary made it clear he would facilitate a quarterback change if the offense was unable to move the chains, Holman had his best game to date – completing 30 of 51 pass attempts for 326 yards, two touchdowns through the air and one on the ground. He came out firing in the first quarter, completing 12 of 15 passes for 16 yards and rushing for a score on his way to an insane 30-51 for 26 yards, two passing touchdowns and one on the ground.
“I love Coach O’Leary, because he knows what to do to push me. He knows what to do to challenge me,” Holman said.
Never in his college career did Blake Bortles complete 30 passes, and is the first time a UCF signal caller has since 2004. The offense outgained BYU 389 to 342, finally showing signs of cohesion.
“My team never gave up, they never lost faith,” said Holman.
Josh Reese’s 37-yard score to tie the game was almost guaranteed to his quarterback, who showed the utmost faith with the game in the balance.
“Throw it up and I got you,” Reese told him, continuing, “Just throw it in the end zone.”
The faith found on the field tonight was not reserved for the offense. Terrance Plummer had a career game as well, a game that weighed heavy on his heart after the passing of his uncle this week.
Not once considering the option to sit the game out for personal reasons, Plummer responded with 17 tackles, a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery. The tackles were a career high, powered by the personal mantra his uncle had instilled with him.
“Go until you can’t go anymore, then go one more time,” Plummer said.
This game could have been disastrous in so many ways for the Knights. Disheartening, demoralizing, and personal – losing would have been a crippling blow in their progress towards the conference championship. Instead it is another example of the perseverance that O’Leary’s teams have characteristically displayed, a rallying point for the rest of the season.
UCF is now finally over .500 for the season with a 3-2 overall record. They will begin preparations for Saturday’s home game against Tulane on Monday.
