KNIGHTS STAY PERFECT
Mack ignites rally as UCF clinches back-to-back AAC titles
Through its 24-game winning streak, UCF had answered countless challenges.
Through thick and thin, through doubledigit deficits and debilitating injuries, the Knights have taken everyone’s best shot and somehow, someway survived.
Even when faced with its biggest challenge to date: down 17 points to Memphis in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game Saturday and without their star quarterback McKenzie Milton, the Knights somehow, someway mounted an epic comeback and beat the Tigers 56-41.
“Since I’ve gotten here in January, no matter what has hit them adversely, they’ve reacted and responded in a positive way,” UCF coach Josh Heupel said after his team extended the nation’s longest win streak to 25 games. “They draw closer to each other, they believe harder in what we’re doing, they continue to push in a positive way.
“Our locker room was extremely calm at halftime. There was a great belief that this was a situation that we’ve already been in.”
Backup quarterback Darriel Mack Jr. accounted for six total touchdowns in just his second career start as No. 8 UCF outscored Memphis 35-3 in the second half to remain undefeated and capture its second consecutive conference championship.
“He did a great job running the offense,” Memphis coach Mike Norvell said of Mack. “We needed to get more pressure on him. He was a force in this game.”
Mack, who combined for more than 400 total yards of offense, was named the Most Outstanding Player of the game. He joins Milton who won the award last season.
“I feel like I went out there and played my game and made plays when I needed to,” Mack said.
Much like in its narrow win over Memphis in October, UCF found itself in a seemingly insurmountable hole at halftime.
Once again, Darrell Henderson tortured the Knights’ defense early. The running back broke off a 62-yard touchdown run on the fourth play of the game to give Memphis the early lead. Henderson finished the first half with an impressive 207 yards and three touchdowns, but he was limited to three yards in the second half.
The Tigers capitalized on an early fumble by Mack, with Henderson barreling
through the UCF defense for a 12-yard touchdown run to give Memphis a quick 14-0 lead.
UCF got on the scoreboard thanks to a 14-yard touchdown run by Greg McCrae. He finished with a team-high 206 rushing yards, eclipsing 100 yards rushing in a game for the fourth time in the past five games.
But those good feelings didn’t last long. Memphis countered with another long touchdown run, this one a 72-yarder by Patrick Taylor to push the lead to 21-7.
Memphis later capitalized on another Mack fumble, converting the turnover into a 36-yard Riley Patterson field goal to extend the lead to 24-7.
UCF cut into the lead with an apparent 6-yard scoring run by Mack, but as the redshirt freshman dove into the end zone, he was hit and the ball flipped loose. UCF tight end Michael Colubiale eventually recovered the football for the touchdown.
UCF cut the lead to 31-21 with just under three minutes left in the first half after Mack found redshirt sophomore tight end Jake Hescock in the back of the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown. It was Mack’s first career touchdown pass and it cut the lead to 10.
Heupel paced the sidelines waving his hands in the air, trying to get the crowd amped up for the defense.
But after the Knights forced a three-and-out on defense, Otis Anderson fumbled the punt and Memphis took over at the UCF 31-yard line. Five plays later, Henderson took the snap out of the wildcat formation and lofted a 4-yard pass to Sean Dykes that extended the lead to 38-21.
“Obviously it wasn’t going well in the first 30 minutes of play,” Heupel said. “Uncharacteristic turnovers from us and we had a hard time stopping the run. But again, our kids just continue to fight. [They] believe in the guy next to him, [they] believe in themselves, [they] believe in what we’re doing inside of our program and come out the next 30 minutes and play absolutely
As they have all season, the Knights regrouped at halftime and won the pivotal third quarter.
“We were really composed at halftime,” UCF linebacker Nate Evans said. “We saw the scoreboard, but we knew the game was not over. We just stayed calm and stayed composed and we’re going to compete for another 30 minutes.”
UCF took the second-half kickoff and drove to its own 46-yard line before Mack connected with Anderson down the left side for a 54-yard touchdown that cut the lead to 38-28 with 12 minutes left in the third quarter.
After forcing a three-andout, Anderson gave the Knights a spark, returning a punt 43 yards into Memphis territory. Mack did the rest, diving into the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown that trimmed the Tigers’ lead to 38-35.
Memphis added a field goal to pull ahead 41-35, but Mack led UCF on a long drive he closed with a 2-yard touchdown run that gave the Knights their first lead of the game at 42-41.
UCF then hit the gas and never looked back, shutting fantastic football.” out the Tigers while extending their lead in front of the raucous announced crowd of 45,176.
The Knights amassed a season-high 698 yards during the win, including 350 yards on the ground.
Amid the No. 10 jerseys and leis honoring Milton, television cameras captured his mom streaming the Knights’ for
UCF remained perfect and will wait to learn their bowl fate Sunday.
Thanks to a weaker strength of schedule, most expect the Knights to earn a bid in a New Year’s Six Access Bowl rather than claiming a playoff semifinal bid postgame celebration her son via FaceTime. and a chance national title.
Heupel was asked what he would like to say to the selection committee.
He told the ABC broadcast team, “You look at what this program’s done for two straight years. This team’s got the heart of a champion. They deserve to go prove it on the field.” to play for a