Johnson helps UCF storm to upset victory
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Storm Johnson already knew the answer to the question his coaches were posing to the Knights.
“How bad do you want to win?”
With UCF down 14-7 at the half to No. 8 Louisville in front of an estimated 55,215 crimson-clad fans at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium Friday night and on national television, the redshirt junior running back was prepared to answer the question the only way he knew how … on the field.
Johnson rushed for 109 yards — his second career 100-yard rushing game — and a touchdown while adding 79 yards receiving with a score at Louisville. His big plays helped UCF (5-1, 2-0 American) rally from a 21-point deficit in the third quarter to upset the Cardinals 38-35.
“I just believed in my teammates and my coaches,” said Johnson, whofinished 8 yards shy of tying his career high of 117 yards. “Even though we were down three touchdowns, I just believed in my coaches. They had a speech at halftime, ‘Howbad did you want to win?’ That was the big quote. And that was it.”
It was Louisville’s (6-1, 2-1) first loss since the Cardinals fell in triple overtime to Con- necticut on Nov. 24, 2012. That was also the last time the Cardinals allowed a 100-yard rusher in a game.
“Our coaches gave us a game plan and we just executed and finished off with the game,” Johnson said.
UCF coach George O’Leary added, “I thought all the backs played really well. They got some key yards in the running game against a very good defense.”
Louisville quickly extended its 14-7 halftime lead to a 28-7 advantage with 7:52 left in the third quarter. When it appeared things were quickly getting out of hand, Johnson, fellow running back William Stanback and UCF’s offensive line took over.
OnUCF’snext possession, the Knights drove down the field on six plays capped by Johnson’s 1-yard touchdown run that cut Louisville’s lead to 28-14. The Cardinals coughed up the ball on their own 15-yard line, and two plays later, Blake Bortles found Johnson on a screen pass. The Miami Hurricanes transfer and former Georgia high-school standout did the rest, reversing direction and scampering 20-yards to the end zone to cut the lead to 28-21 with 3:40 left in the third.
After the Knights’ defense forced a Louisville punt on its next possession, it was Stanback’s turn to help UCF out. The freshman running back had back-to-back runs, including a 12-yarder for a touchdown that helped tie the game 28-28 with 30 seconds left in the third.
Stanback finished with a career-high 65 yards on nine carries while finding the end zone twice.
The Knights ran the ball eight times for 68 yards: Johnson with five carries for 36 yards and Stanback with two carries for 42.
Louisville coach Charlie Strong pointed to his team’s poor tackling as a concern when it came to wrapping up Johnson and Stanback.
“The thing we didn’t do is tackle well,” Strong said. “If you look at it, we’d be right there to hold the guy, he’d break the tackle and make one guy miss and then he’s down the boundary.”
Louisville came into the game allowing 68.3 yards on the ground this season. Last week, the Cardinals held Rutgers to just 12 yards on the ground. UCF, which was averaging144 yards pergame heading into this week’s contest, rushed for 196 yards.
UCF center Joey Grant said he was proud of the way Johnson stepped up to spark the Knights when they needed him.
“We had a game plan for the run, andhe executed it to the T,” Grant said. “He did everything we asked him to do.”
“It’s a giant win for this program, for this university. And I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of it.”