Knights get to flip script
UCF keeps its poise, avoids second-half collapse at Tulane
UCF looked as if it held a firm command over Tulane during the first 35 minutes of their matchup Saturday,
The Knights extended their early lead to 24-7 with 10 minutes, 40 seconds left in the third quarter thanks to a 1-yard touchdown run by backup quarterback Darriel Mack Jr. But during a span of six minutes, that advantage began to evaporate as the Green Wave scored 10 unanswered points, including a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
It was a familiar feeling.
Two weeks earlier, UCF jumped out to an early double-digit lead, only to watch host Tulsa rally in the second half for a 34-31 win over the Knights.
With the momentum clearly swinging toward Tulane on Saturday, the Knights faced a critical juncture. This time around, the team kept its poise and responded. On fourth-and-goal late in the third quarter, Mack found tight end Anthony Roberson in the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown pass.
The score was key during the team’s 34-31 win over the Green Wave.
“Tight ball game and obviously the kickoff return we gave up was a huge play early in the second half as well, but the kids continued to fight and they answered back,” UCF coach Josh Heupel said. “That was a huge play in the game, based on how the late third quarter and early fourth quarter played out.
“It was important for us to go answer back at that time. There was a three-andout before that and momentum was not going the right way, so it was a critical play from that drive that helped change it.”
Heupel was pleased with the way his team responded when pressed in the second half.
“Our kids, our young kids, are learning how to play and compete and handle adverse situations, handle momentum when it goes the wrong way and just continue to play football and be sound in your decisionmaking and continue to fight,” he said.
UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel said the Knights did whatever was needed to shift the momentum.
“We just found a way. We lived on the right side of certain plays that were 50-50,” Gabriel said. “That’s what’s got to happen to win close games like this. We got a win, and that’s the main thing.”
Running back Otis Anderson said there was no point during the close stretch when the Knights thought about the Tulsa loss.
“You try not to think back on other games. You have to keep the same mentality of attacking, so I don’t think anyone thought of the Tulsa game during this game,” Anderson said. “It’s just one play at a time. We were saying on the sideline, one play at a time. It’s going to take a full 60 minutes.”
UCF players and coaches raved about the atmosphere at Yulman Stadium on Saturday, with a large contingent of Knights fans making their presence known during the game.
Afterward, many of the players ran over to the stands to thank the fans with handshakes and high-fives.
“A huge turnout and great energy from the warm-ups to the opening kickoff, they were loud all day long,” Heupel said of the atmosphere in the stadium. “I didn’t expect that type of turnout, and it was fantastic.”
While the announced crowd of 21,032 mostly donned Tulane green and blue, UCF players and coaches clearly could hear their fans.
“It felt like a home game, honestly,” Anderson said of the crowd. “Just the crowd being that they travel where we go, that just shows that Knight Nation loves us, and we love them, too.”
Gabriel added, “I never expected that many people to travel. It means a lot, not only to the players but to the coaches as well.”
UCF linebacker Eric Mitchell hopes the support continues Friday when the Knights host rival USF at 8 p.m.
“They came all the way out to New Orleans to support us, and I hope they do the same for the USF game and pack the house,” he said.