ORLANDO, Fla. – The mood was festive on campus in the hours leading up to Saturday’s game against Baylor. After all, it was UCF’s first home Big 12 matchup, and the Knights responded big time by building a 35-7 lead midway through the third quarter.
Then Baylor produced the biggest comeback in the program’s 122 seasons. It was also the first time UCF lost when leading by 28.
The Bears reeled off 29 straight points in an unimaginable 36-35 win at FBS Mortgage Stadium.
“That’s a tough loss and a game that we let get away,” said UCF coach Gus Malzahn, in an understatement. “I think everybody sees that, everybody knows that. It’s disappointing and we have to find a way to put this one behind us.”
The Knights fell to 3-2 on the season with both losses in conference play. They came up short at Kansas State last week, 44-31.
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The Knights did not run many plays in building a 28-7 first-half lead, but had a few big plays. Johnny Richardson’s 79-yard run on their first play from scrimmage provided a 7-0 lead. Former USF quarterback Timmy McClain connected with receiver Javon Baker on a 65-yard TD to make it 21-0 with still 6:17 remaining in the opening quarter. The Knights had a 196-2 yardage advantage at that point.
Less than four minutes into the second quarter, safety Demari Henderson stripped Bears running back Dominic Richardson and went 87 yards the other way for a 28-7 lead. After 30 minutes, Baylor had a 44-19 advantage in plays with the Knights holding a 240-189 lead in yardage.
However, it was Baylor that made the plays, while UCF misfired on several, in the second half. With the Knights leading 35-26 and driving, running back R.J. Harvey, in the wildcat, could not handle the snap. Freshman corner Caden Jenkins scooped up the ball and went 72 yards to make it a two-point game with 6:02 left in the final quarter.
“If we get a field goal there, we are probably in pretty good shape,” said Malzahn.
Instead, after forcing a three-and-out, Baylor went 61 yards on nine plays and took the lead on a 25-yard field goal by Isaiah Hankins with 1:21 remaining.
The Knights had one last gasp, but Colton Boomer’s 59-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the game fell well short.
UCF will attempt to get its first Big 12 win at Kansas next Saturday.
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