UCF Knights Upset Baylor in Shoot Out

02 Jan, 2014

A decade after a winless season, Central Florida earned its first trip to a BCS bowl.

Once the Knights got there, they were given no chance at winning. Not against Baylor, the nation’s best offensive team.  Blake Bortles accounted for 394 yards and four touchdowns, Storm Johnson ran for two early tone-setting scores and No. 15 Central Florida outlasted Baylor 52-42 on Wednesday night in the highest-scoring game in Fiesta Bowl history.

“We did prove a lot of people wrong,” Johnson said. Central Florida (12-1) wasn’t given much of a chance, entering the game as a 17-point underdog.

They took an early 14-point lead and kept rolling, piling up 556 total yards in the second-highest scoring BCS bowl ever.

Bortles, the junior who could be weighing a jump to the NFL, was the catalyst, throwing for three touchdowns on 20-of-31 passing and running for 93 yards and another score.

Rannell Hall accounted for some of the biggest plays, catching four passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson kept Baylor from ganging up on UCF’s passing game, grinding out 124 yards on 20 carries.

Known for its offense prowess, Baylor (11-2) had a hard time keeping up with the Knights.

The Big 12 champions finished with 550 total yards, but were uncharacteristically undisciplined, getting 17 penalties for 135 yards.

Bryce Petty tried to keep the Bears in it, running for three touchdowns while throwing for 356 yards and two more scores. Lache Seastrunk had some big runs in the first half and finished with 117 yards.

None of it was enough the way UCF ran through Baylor’s defense.

 AP

Image AP

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