Knights make history as they upset the No. 2-ranked Cougars

Photo courtesy of Aryah Britt

UCF shocked the college football world on Saturday, defeating the No. 2-ranked BYU Cougars in a double-overtime thriller, 39-31, in a historic upset at the Acrisure Bounce House.

After an incomplete pass from quarterback Bear Bachmeier on fourth-and-goal, Knights (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) fans stormed the field as UCF secured its highest-ranked win in program history and its first-ever win against an AP top-five opponent.

After losses to ranked Houston and Oklahoma State, it was primitive for the group to home in on finishing all four quarters, the message of the bye week.

“The message all week was we put ourselves in a position to have a chance at the end against three really good teams, and we haven’t gotten it done,” head coach Scott Frost told reporters postgame. “I’m happy for UCF, a win like this has been a long time coming for us.”

With the victory, the Knights ended a two-game losing streak and the Cougars (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) were handed their first loss of the season after an upset of their own against Notre Dame last week in Provo, Utah.

While Alonza Barnett III was suited up, senior quarterback Keyone Jenkins made his fifth consecutive start for the Knights.

Prior to the matchup, Jenkins envisioned fans storming the field, he even knew what song he was going to add to his postgame post.

“I actually had a vision the night before last about storming the field,” Jenkins said. “Towards the end of the game, I was just talking to God, walking up and down the field like, ‘I need you, Jesus.’”

The first half saw exchanged blows between both teams, with BYU striking first on a 27-yard touchdown pass by Bachmeier to wide receiver Kyler Kasper.

With the Cougars up 14-10 with 1:23 left in the second quarter, Bachmeier’s pass is tipped into the air and intercepted by senior linebacker Tackett Curtis.

Curtis’ interception marked the Knights’ defense’s 12th turnover of the season.

After a methodical drive led by Jenkins, redshirt junior running back Landen Chambers found the end zone for the second time on a six-yard touchdown pass with four seconds left in the half.

A Bachmeier kneel sent the game into halftime with UCF leading 17-14.

The second half was an emotional rollercoaster.

A little over five minutes into the half, running back Sione Moa found the end zone for a one-yard push as the Cougars retook the lead; Matthias Dunn’s PAT made it 17-21.

With the Knights playing from behind, a third-and-long pinned them in an opportunity to punt the ball back to the Cougars. However, a 56-yard catch-and-run on a screen pass to freshman wide receiver Tyren Hornes positioned UCF in the red zone.

Jenkins capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run to retake the lead, making it a three-point game at 24-21 with 3:06 left in the third quarter.

With 12:09 left in regulation, a 47-yard field goal by Dunn evened the game at 24.

After an exchange of punts, the Knights put together a methodical drive that put them in position to take a late lead.

However, Jenkins’ keeper on fourth-and-goal was stuffed at the one-yard line, and the Cougars got the ball back with 1:42 left.

UCF’s defense rose to the challenge and forced a three-and-out from the BYU offense, giving the Knights a chance to put the game away with less than a minute left.

With the Knights in field goal range, the blue-clad crowd roared as Jenkins was sacked and stripped of the football.

However, after review, officials ruled that Jenkins threw an incomplete pass. BYU was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on the initial play, and officials enforced the penalty after review, placing the ball on the 28-yard line.

Redshirt senior kicker Will Stone attempted a 47-yard field goal with ten seconds left on the clock, but it was blocked by BYU. Stone recovered the ball, but he lost his helmet in the process, forcing a ten-second runoff that sent the game into overtime.

The Cougars scored first in overtime on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Bachmeier to wide receiver Legend Glasker.

In just one play, Jenkins escaped the pocket and rolled to his left where he found senior wide receiver Josh Derry for a 25-yard touchdown pass.

“He’s a tough player,” Derry said. “[The pocket] was collapsing on him, and he kept his eyes downfield to see the open touchdown to keep us in that game.”

In second overtime, UCF settled for a 26-yard field goal; however, a roughing-the-kicker penalty gave the Knights another fresh set of downs and more life.

Two plays later, Jenkins struck again, finding redshirt sophomore tight end and Utah native Grayson Brousseau, who fought his way for a four-yard touchdown pass. With UCF required to attempt a two-point conversion, Jenkins connected with Hornes to put the Knights up 39-31.

Bachmeier and the Cougars tried to respond, however, a pass to tight end Walker Lyons was incomplete, erupting a crowd of black and gold as they rushed the field.

The UCF offense finished with 463 total yards, the most since its week one matchup against Bethune-Cookman, when it tabbed a season-high 560 yards, 200 passing and 360 rushing.

Jenkins finished 25-for-41 for 293 yards and three touchdowns, and added a rushing touchdown in the contest. Junior running back Duke Watson led the pack in rushing with 94 yards on 15 carries, averaging 6.3 yards per carry.

Hornes made his starting debut on Saturday for the Knights, a decision Frost and the coaches made during the bye week.

Hornes took advantage of the opportunity, breaking out and leading the Knights with six receptions for 137 yards on nine targets.

“I knew what [Hornes] could do, that dude’s a beast, man,” Jenkins said. “He’s going to be a great help for this program later on down the line. I hope they keep him.”

As for BYU, Bachmeier finished 16-for-32 for 257 yards and two touchdowns as well as an interception. Wide receiver Kyler Kasper led the group with six catches for 129 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets.

The Knights get back to work on a short week as they host the Baylor Bears (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) on Friday in their tenth annual Space Game. Kickoff for Friday’s matchup at the Acrisure Bounce House is set for 7:30 p.m.

“It’s good that we’re at home. I think on a short week it’s way better to be at home than have to fly out the day before,” Frost said. “We got to do the best to get the team physically and mentally ready to play.”