Knights backup QB has memorable TD
Although the game was effectively finished, Dar- riel Mack Jr. was just getting started.
UCF’s backup quarterback entered last Thursday’s season opener at Connecticut during the early stages of the fourth quarter with the Knights hold- ing a cozy 49-10 advantage. The way his first series as a college football player would end up unfolding, according to Mack, felt like a blessing. The events were kind of prophesied by the man whom he replaced.
As Mack was preparing to make his debut, quarterback McKenzie Milton came to him with these words on a post-touchdown celebration:
“If you take one and go for 80, we’re going to hit a little basketball shot and jump up together.”
Unfortunately, Mack didn’t pull off an 80-yard touchdown run on his opening drive. But a 70-yard rushing score — the second-longest in school history by a quarterback behind only a 75-yard scamper from Daunte Cul- pepper — was a fine conso- lation for the redshirt freshman. It occurred on just his fifth play at the college level.
“I felt like it was too good to be true,” Mack said. “It felt like I was going to get tackled at one point. Then I kind of took that look and I was like, ‘Oh, man. It’s over with.’ ”
At the snap, Mack faked a handoff to running back Bentavious Thompson, benefited from a block by tight end Jake Hescock and zoomed around the left corner. Once he realized ing instead of in each to the As his front him. behind trip step the Mack parents, on south Or of Huskies brought him. what rather, him, sprinted who from was he him were had who Norfolk, focused in ahead, closer made front fad- was Va., the end would first-row and zone notch who where seats his were first behind their sitting college son the in touchdown. 30, I could “Once I kind just I of got see locked to their about eyes excite- and the ment,” get to them Mack fast said. enough. “I couldn’t chance. “It’s a My once-in-a-lifetime parents are my biggest supporters. They always are proud of me no matter where I am, no matter what I do . ... To be able to make that play right in front of them, it was very big for me.”